THE boss of a sanctuary group for refugees has slammed the government’s asylum system and law changes following Brexit.

Richard Williams is chairman of Sanctuary on Sea, Brighton and Hove’s City of Sanctuary group, which is part of a national network that welcomes and celebrates refugees.

Mr Williams said ministers refuse to address “the blindingly obvious flaw” in the asylum system.

SEE ALSO: Dozens rescued off coast in Sussex after 'migrant' boat crossing

He said: “Ministers are right that the asylum system is broken, but they refuse to address the blindingly obvious flaw in it. 

"People fleeing violence and persecution in countries like Iran, Afghanistan and Syria trying to reach sanctuary in the UK are given no alternative to risking their lives in flimsy boats or the back of lorries.

"Many, including children, are trying to reach family members.

The Argus: Children were among those rescued last Saturday when a boat was towed in at Sovereign Harbour, EastbourneChildren were among those rescued last Saturday when a boat was towed in at Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne

“They need to be treated like human beings, otherwise we will only see more suffering and more deaths.”

More than 100 people have risked their lives in crossing the Channel to reach UK shores so far this year.

Last Saturday, Coastguard teams launched a rescue operation after a small boat got into difficulty about 23 miles south of Beachy Head. Up to 35 men, women and children were safely towed ashore at the Sovereign Harbour in Eastbourne.

Sussex Police assisted Border Force officers in receiving “a number of people suspected of not having authority to enter the UK” who were detained. The Home Office refused to comment on the specific case but said it dealt with six incidents involving 103 people on Saturday.

Minister for Immigration Compliance and the Courts Chris Philp said the government has taken steps to stop crossings, which he described as an “unacceptable problem of illegal migration”.

The Argus: Photos: Eddie MitchellPhotos: Eddie Mitchell

He said: “People should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach and not risk their lives making a dangerous and illegally-facilitated crossing.

“Government efforts have contributed to a 70 per cent reduction in crossings since September on fair-weather days, by direct intervention on the French beaches.

“Post EU exit, this government will work to fix the broken asylum system. Legislative changes to the law are being made to enable cases to be treated as inadmissible if they have travelled through a safe country.

“The government will continue to seek to return those with no legal right to remain in the UK.”

But Mr Williams said the government is wrong to define all Channel crossings as illegal, because refugees are protected under the 1951 Refugee Convention for crossing a border without the right papers.

He said: “If the people in the boats are refugees, they are not crossing the Channel illegally.

The Argus:

"Before the end of the Brexit transition period, under the EU Dublin Regulation, the government did send asylum seekers to countries they came through, or with which they had a link, but it can no longer do so.

"Under new rules brought in in December, the government will treat the asylum claims of people who came through 'safe third countries' as inadmissible.

"But lawyers believe this is not compatible with the Refugee Convention, and the government would still have to get those countries to agree to take people back.”

According to figures from the Home Office, 8,400 people crossed the Channel last year, compared to 1,844 in 2019. The numbers include those who were intercepted or held by officials on their arrival.

In 2019, the UK granted protection to 0.2 asylum seekers per 1,000 of its resident population of 67 million.

But Covid-19 has had a major impact on asylum seeking and refugee resettlement, according to the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford.

In the second quarter of last year, asylum applicants fell by 41 per cent compared to 2019. 

Grants of asylum at initial decision were down by 55 per cent, while refugee resettlement, which was not possible due to the pandemic, fell to zero.