How asylum affects Britain?

Below is an artical posted in the sun however is an interesting read.

By TIM SPANTON

FIGURES out yesterday were hailed by the Government as showing it is winning the war against bogus refugees.

The number seeking asylum has halved and a fifth more of those rejected are being expelled, said the Home Office.

Many people remain unconvinced, especially when they hear almost daily of unsavoury incidents involving illegal immigrants.

Most newcomers to Britain are honest people seeking a better life. But a hardcore minority turns to lawbreaking.

The Sun measured the problem by sitting in on three days at magistrates’ courts. We heard allegations of murder, terrorism, human trafficking, burglary, drink-driving and theft.

Britain has 92,685 asylum seekers plus 350,000 illegal immigrants, that is 0.74 per cent of the population. But on our days in court they formed 21.1 per cent of defendants.

Our survey does not claim to be scientific. But it does show how a sizeable proportion of those supposedly seeking a safe haven in Britain are abusing our hospitality. Below are some of the cases.

CASE 1

DAY ONE. BOW STREET MAGISTRATES' COURT, CENTRAL LONDON

A boozy asylum seeker from the former Yugoslavia was banned from driving for 15 months and ordered to pay a £200 fine plus £50 costs. Ded Nikolla admitted driving with excess alcohol and without insurance in his Ford Escort.

“Police saw the vehicle wheeling between two lanes along the Strand,” said prosecutor Deidre Dickens.


Andrew Moxon, defending, said Nikolla, 31, had been to a staff party at the restaurant where he worked in North London. He added:“He is a Yugoslavian national who came to the country in 2001. He was caught up in the troubles there. He claimed asylum and has been granted indefinite leave to remain.”

CASE 2

DAY ONE. BOW STREET MAGISTRATES’ COURT, CENTRAL LONDON

Mousa Kamara was accused of five charges of helping illegal immigrants enter via Stansted airport. He is also accused of harbouring two people at his home in Stratford, East London.

Nigerian Kamara, 43, is also charged with using a forged driving licence in the name of a dead man and dishonestly obtaining a passport. He has been remanded in custody until September 5 for committal to crown court.

CASE 3

DAY ONE. BOW STREET MAGISTRATES’ COURT, CENTRAL LONDON

Libyan Ishmael Kamoka was found with almost £6,000 in various currencies to be used for terrorism, the court was told.

Samantha Leek, prosecuting, said the Met Police were seeking to keep the haul under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime And Security Act.

Detective Constable John Ball told the court: “There are reasonable grounds to suspect the money is terrorist cash or would be used for the purposes of terrorism.”

Kamoka, 38, is being held at Category A Belmarsh prison, South London. A court official said he had not been charged with any terrorist offences.

CASE 4

DAY TWO. HORSEFERRY ROAD MAGISTRATES’ COURT, WEST LONDON

Two Palestinian asylum seekers admitted stealing clothes worth £238 from Debenhams. Yasir Abouatiya and Mohammed Ramdane, both of no fixed address, were challenged by security staff as they left the store in Oxford Street, Central London.

“They made no attempt to pay,” said prosecutor Claire Campbell. “Abouatiya was chased down the street on foot.”

Abouatiya, 31, was sentenced to a day in jail or £100 fine but was freed as he had been in custody since his arrest. The court heard he could be deported. Ramdane, 30, will be sentenced today.

CASE 5

DAY THREE. BOW STREET MAGISTRATES’ COURT, CENTRAL LONDON

Vietnamese asylum seeker Anh Nguyen admitted his second shoplifting offence since coming to Britain six months ago.

Nguyen was first cautioned for the crime in July. This time he was fined £75 with £55 costs.


Prosecutor Peter Man said: “Nguyen was seen to enter Lillywhites in Regent Street carrying a bag. He picked up four T-shirts from a display and went to the ground floor, where he walked into a corner and concealed them in the bag. He admitted stealing the T-shirts, total value £42.”

Nguyen, 22, of Peckham, South London, does not speak English.

CASE 6

DAY THREE. BOW STREET MAGISTRATES’ COURT, CENTRAL LONDON

An Arab fled to Britain after killing a woman in Holland, the court heard. Abderrahim Hakim, 26, of no fixed address, faces extradition accused of murdering Catherina Overduik last December.

Colin Nott, defending, asked for further time to take instructions. He said: “My client has indicated he has never been anywhere near Holland.” Hakim was remanded in custody until September 17.

CASE 7

DAY THREE. BOW STREET MAGISTRATES’ COURT, CENTRAL LONDON

Russian asylum seeker Sanat Branov was caught sipping a pint of beer when police arrived at a pub break-in. Branov, 22, used a brick to smash his way into the Old Monk in Maddox Street, West London, on August 10.

Branov, of no fixed address, admitted burglary with intent to steal. Branov has been served with an IM3 certificate warning him he could be deported, the court was told.

Jailing him for 12 weeks, Judge Anthony Evans told Branov that Britain’s prison system meant he would be “released after you have served six weeks”.

CASE 8

DAY THREE. BOW STREET MAGISTRATES’ COURT, CENTRAL LONDON

Romanian asylum seeker Marius Radu will be tried next month accused of stealing a mobile phone from a customer at the Crescent Cafe in Leicester Square.


He and another unidentified man are alleged to have distracted the man and taken his mobile while asking for directions to the Underground.

Radu, 21, of Finchley, North London, was unconditionally bailed to return to Bow Street on September 30.

The above is from the Sun News Paper