Sex offenders to be stripped of refugee protections in new asylum system overhaul

TOUGHER border security measures will keep British streets safer, with foreign sex offenders to be excluded from refugee protections as the Government announces new measures to slash the asylum backlog and strengthen border security through the Plan for Change.

At present, the Refugee Convention entitles countries to refuse asylum to terrorists, war criminals and individuals convicted of a:- 'particularly serious crime' who present a danger to the community; defined in the UK as an offence carrying a sentence of twelve months or more.

For the first time, any conviction of a crime that qualifies a foreign national for the sex offenders register will lead to them being denied refugee status, toughening our approach to border security through stricter enforcement of the rules.

The law change, which will be introduced through a new amendment to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, also marks a further step in the Government's landmark mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade, making Britain's streets safer and sending a clear message that sexual offences will be treated with the seriousness they deserve.

The new law comes alongside stronger measures to cut the asylum backlog and save taxpayer money, by giving the tribunals a new target to reduce the time they take to consider appeals from asylum seekers in accommodation, as well as rolling out AI across asylum processing to speed up decision making.

Under the new measures, the 1st Tier Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber will have a new 24 week target to decide appeals brought by those receiving accommodation support, or who are foreign offenders. This will help stop lengthy legal battles, moving failed asylum seekers out of hotels faster and removing those with no right to be in the country.

The Bill will also introduce tougher measures to weed out people who pose as immigration lawyers or advisers, by offering 'advice' to migrants on how to claim asylum in the UK and lodge fraudulent claims. The Immigration Advice Authority will get expanded powers to hit these crooks with fines of up to £15,000.

Major progress has already been made in fixing the foundations of the asylum system under the new Government, with the return of more than 24,000 people with no right to be in the UK in the 1st 9 months after the election, including a 16% increase in removals of foreign criminals, and asylum decision-making up 52% in the last 3 months of 2024.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said:- "We are restoring order to a broken asylum system that has been mired in delay and dysfunction for far too long, and we are strengthening our system to make sure that the rules are respected and enforced. Sex offenders who pose a risk to the community should not be allowed to benefit from refugee protections in the UK. We are strengthening the law to ensure these appalling crimes are taken seriously. Nor should asylum seekers be stuck in hotels at the taxpayers' expense during lengthy legal battles. That is why we are changing the law to help clear the backlog, end the use of asylum hotels and save billions of pounds for the taxpayer. This is part of our Plan for Change to strengthen our borders, make our streets safer and restore order to the broken system the last Government left behind."

Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls Minister Jess Philips said:- "We are determined to achieve our mission of halving violence against women and girls in a decade. That's exactly why we are taking action to ensure there are robust safeguards across the system, including by clamping down on foreign criminals who commit heinous crimes like sex offences. It is right we ensure that convicted, registered sex offenders are not entitled to refugee status, as part of our work to see these awful crimes treated with the seriousness they deserve and perpetrators held to account."

Alongside these measures, AI will be deployed to support caseworkers to make swifter decisions on asylum claims; preventing asylum seekers from being stuck in limbo at the taxpayers' expense, delivering quicker answers to those in need and removal of those with no right to be here.

Caseworkers will use AI to speed up access to the relevant country advice, and summarise lengthy interview transcripts, streamlining asylum processing without compromising on the quality of human decisions. The tech could save decision makers up to an hour per case.

As announced last month, alongside these critical measures to reform the asylum system, the Government will also table an amendment to the Bill which requires companies hiring people in the gig economy to carry out checks confirming that anyone working in their name is eligible to work in the UK, bringing them in line with other employers.

These vital checks confirm someone's immigration status and allow them to legally work in the UK, meaning that for the very first time, employment checks will be extended to cover businesses hiring gig economy and zero hours workers in sectors like construction, food delivery, beauty salons and courier services.

In addition to these measures, the landmark Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill will empower law enforcement to intervene faster and more effectively, using counterterror style powers to disrupt the people smuggling gangs and placing restrictions on foreign offenders living in the community, including mandatory electronic tags, strict night time curfews and enforced exclusion zones while awaiting removal.

Mum with life changing injuries returns to Aintree University Hospital with Mayor Rotheram to unveil revamped family room

A mum who suffered life changing injuries after being hit by a car has returned to the Major Trauma Centre that saved her life to unveil a revamped relatives room made possible by the charity that supported her.

Ruby Doyle Flanagan, 28, spent three months in Aintree University Hospital after emergency surgery to amputate her right leg and reconstruction of her pelvis and left leg when she was crushed between two cars in Wallasey in 2021.

During her stay in Hospital, Ruby, her mum Edwina Doyle, and son Leon, who was only six months at the time, were supported by Day 1 Trauma Support. The charity works in partnership with NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (UHLG) to provide major trauma patients and families with much needed emotional, practical and financial support while at Aintree Major Trauma Centre.

On Friday (25 April), Ruby, Edwina and Leon, now four, returned to the Hospital, along with Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, to meet the staff who cared for her and to reveal the improved relatives room that has been refurbished by Day 1 Trauma Support. The room, that had become tired and unwelcoming, now provides a quiet and supportive space for friends and family members visiting patients on the major trauma ward. Thanks to fundraising by Hospital staff and patients, and donations from law firms Irwin Mitchell and Leigh Day, the charity was able to provide a TV, furniture and wall art that goes beyond what the NHS can provide.

During Friday's visit Mayor Rotheram also got to meet some of the life saving staff who work at the Major Trauma Centre (MTC), which is the Regional Centre for the North West and the Isle of Man and a partnership between UHLG (which runs Aintree University Hospital) and The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust. Since opening in June 2012, more than circa 14,235 patients admitted via the Aintree Emergency Department received a:- 'Trauma Team Activation,' with many more patients also receiving expert care from the highly experienced and specialist staff at both Trusts.

Ruby, who was a nurse at Arrowe Park Hospital in the Wirral, was 1 of the first patients at Aintree to benefit from Day 1 Trauma Support's bedside offer in 2021. As well as providing vital emotional support, Day 1 was able to signpost to legal support, which resulted in Ruby and Leon being transferred to STEPS Rehabilitation, a dedicated residential facility in Sheffield. Ruby, who is now back home in Wallasey, walks with a prosthetic leg and is looking forward to a positive future for her and Leon.

2024's Day 1 supported 169 people in Aintree, and more than 2,200 people nationally through its work in other MTCs and support line and website. It also gave out more than £8,700 in grants to Aintree patients and family members to help with costs such as:- accommodation so loved ones can remain near to the Hospital.

The charity is wanting to reach even more people and on:- Sunday, 27 April 2025, featured in its 1st BBC Lifeline Appeal on BBC 1. The appeal and features Paul Price, 57, of Woolton, Liverpool, who was left with catastrophic, life changing injuries during the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017. His partner Elaine, who had been stood beside him in the foyer as they waited to collect his daughter from the Ariana Grande concert, died at the scene. Paul spent nine months in Hospital in Manchester, and many more recovering at home, where he felt alone and isolated. Years later Paul discovered Day 1 and spoke to a Peer Support Volunteer who had lived experience of major trauma. It transformed Paul's life. So much so, that he is now a volunteer for the charity himself - helping ensure others like him don't have to rebuild their life on their own after catastrophic injury.

You can support Day 1's appeal until:- 18 May 2025, via:- BBC.Co.UK/Lifeline.

Andrew Brasington, Services Manager at Day 1 Trauma Support, said:- "We're incredibly grateful to Mayor Rotheram and Ruby for officially unveiling our refurbished relatives room at Aintree Major Trauma Centre, which we hope will give family members a more supportive space when visiting loved ones. It was great to see Ruby again and we're glad we were able to play a part in her recovery. We're thankful to all our supporters who made it possible and to Mayor Rotheram for his support and hope we can work together in the future to ensure major trauma survivors in the Liverpool City Region get the support they need to help rebuild their lives again."

Pete Turkington, Executive Managing Director, University of Liverpool Hospitals Group, said:- "The Major Trauma Team does a fantastic job every day caring for those in need after suffering a catastrophic injury. It isn't just the medical recovery that is important, but also the psychological support required post incident for the patient and their family. Having this comforting space for relatives to take time out when visiting loved ones is essential and we are extremely grateful to Day 1 Trauma Support for facilitating this amazing investment in the centre and allowing us to provide the best possible care to our communities. On behalf of the team at Aintree, we'd like to extend our thanks to Mayor Rotheram and Ruby for officially opening the newly refurbished relatives room and continuing to support the work that we do."

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:- "When someone suffers a major trauma, the road to recovery can be incredibly tough; not just for the patient, but for their family too. Having spaces like this revamped relatives room can make a real difference for people living through some of the hardest days of their lives. That's why I'm proud to support Day 1 Trauma Support and the fantastic work they do alongside Ruby, whose strength, courage and determination are nothing short of inspiring."

Ruby Doyle-Flanagan, 28, of Wallasey, The Wirral, said:- "Surviving being hit by the car was just the start for me and my family. I'm eternally grateful to everyone at Aintree Major Trauma Centre for saving my life but I had to process losing a leg and didn't know if I would lose the other leg. The weeks in Hospital were a blur and Leon was only 6 months old and needed his mum. My whole life had been turned upside down and it was too much for me to cope on my own. That's why I'm so grateful to Day 1 for being there and supporting me throughout my recovery. It was emotional returning to the Hospital again, but I now have so many friends who still work there and they are like an extended family to me. It was lovely to see the improved relatives room, as this space away from the ward is vital for family and friends during their visits. People often forget the impact major trauma has on the family which is why it was an honour to unveil this space as I know how much my mum valued the support from Day 1 too."

Paul Price, of Woolton, Liverpool, said:- "Day 1 Trauma Support holds a special place in my heart because it gave me the support and hope I needed to rebuild my life. Sharing this nationally is crucial to reach others who feel alone in their struggles, showing them that recovery is possible and inspiring them to take that first step."

Matt Garson, partner of Irwin Mitchell's Liverpool office, said:- "We are delighted to have helped towards the refurbishment of the relatives room at Aintree Major Trauma Centre and hope it will now provide a more comfortable space for people when visiting their loved ones. We're proud to have supported and worked alongside Day 1 since their inception and can clearly see how the immediate support they offer positively affects patients' wellbeing and outlook after experiencing major traumatic injuries."

Sally Moore, head of the personal injury team at Leigh Day, said:- "We are very proud to partner with Day 1 Trauma Support in helping patients who have sustained often life changing injury. We're pleased the project to refurbish the relatives room at Aintree Major Trauma Centre has been completed and we hope it plays a small part in helping families regroup in a comfortable space when supporting their loved ones following injury."