Home Office publishes latest figures on asylum backlog

The latest data published by the Home Office on 23 February shows that almost 110,000 asylum seekers have been waiting for six months or more for a decision on their case in the UK. The latest figures follow an announcement by the Home Office that some asylum seekers to the UK in certain circumstances will be considered for refugee status without face-to-face interviews in order to help reduce the backlog of cases. The government explains that the new approach will streamline the system for asylum seekers from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Libya, Syria and Yemen who applied for asylum before July 2022.