Additional statistics referred to in the asylum policy statement
Published 17 November 2025
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This note provides more details about some of the statistics published today in the policy paper ‘Restoring Order and Control: A statement on the government’s asylum and returns policy’ and accompanying statements.
Rights based claims raised during detention
Article 8 rights are also used to stop the removal of those who are living here illegally. In January to September 2022, 86% of people who raised rights-based applications, while in detention awaiting removal, were released.
The Home Office published a research report in March 2021 looking at the issues raised by people facing return in immigration detention.
Further analysis using data up to 2022 has been produced, and the figure above is taken from this. The full updated analysis will be published on GOV.UK as soon as possible.
Referrals to the National Referral Mechanism during detention
More than 2 in 5 people detained for removal between January 2022 and September 2022, were referred as potential victims of modern slavery.
This was published in the Annex: analysis of modern slavery NRM referrals from asylum, small boats and detention cohorts.
Refugee employment
Accompanying statements include “Refugees may rely on benefits. Internal Home Office analysis shows that after 8 years, successful working age asylum claimants have an employment rate of 50% or less.
Further statistics on refugee employment from the Refugee Integration Outcomes (RIO) project show that over a quarter (26%) of asylum refugees aged 16 to 64 years were in employment within the same calendar year they were granted refugee status.
From 2 years after being granted refugee status onwards, the employment rate of asylum refugees remained stable between 48% and 51%. Further analysis of the RIO data, incorporating these statistics, will be published as soon as possible.