What is a safe and legal route for asylum seekers looking to UK?

The UK Government has secured a new deal with France over returning migrants who have arrived on small boats. Campaigners, academics and groups that support asylum seekers have long called for the UK to introduce 'safe and legal routes, as Gillian McFadyen explains

- Gillian McFadyen is lecturer in International Politics, Aberystwyth University

SINCE figures were first recorded in 2018, more than 170,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats, hoping to claim asylum in the UK.

More than 20,000 have crossed this year, and many dozens have died.

Over the years, UK governments have tried a number of tactics - returns agreements, increased law enforcement, deportation schemes, and “smashing” organised smuggling gangs - to try to put an end to this dangerous practice.

The latest attempt is the UK Government's new “one in, one out” pilot migration deal with France, which would see the UK accept some asylum seekers with legitimate claims to life in the UK, while sending an equivalent number back to France.

Campaigners, academics and groups that support asylum seekers have long called for the UK to introduce “safe and legal routes”. They argue that this is the only way to reduce demand for unsafe Channel crossings.

The logic is that people seeking protection are turning to smugglers and small boats because, for most, there are no other options to enter the UK and claim asylum.

But what are these routes?

A safe and legal route is a scheme or journey approved by the UK Government that allows people to enter the country without a visa in order to claim asylum.

The 1951 refugee convention says that people have the right to claim asylum. But UK law requires someone to be physically present in the country to do so.

A safe and legal route stresses that arriving irregularly - for instance, by crossing the Channel in a small boat - is illegal, even though the UN refugee convention is explicit that refugees should not be penalised for how they arrive to claim refuge.