The UK has a difficult balance to strike between its genuine desire to be a safe haven for those who seek asylum and the need to maintain an effective immigration control.
The Fast Track system, supported by the use of immigration detention centres such as Colnbrook, Harmondsworth, Oakington and Yarls Wood, is now the main procedure used to process applications made on arrival, which can be decided in a relatively short time. Even if people make an in-country application they may still be detained and faced with a Fast Track procedure based on the assumption that their claim can be determined fairly quickly based on available evidence.
This quick procedure is used despite the fact that applying immigration law is complicated, not least because the rules change frequently and the interpretation of those rules is also subject to new rulings by the courts.
Legal representation is essential to ensure that the rules are applied correctly in each case.
Duncan Lewis’ accredited case workers
are experts in identifying those cases
where it is appropriate to invoke the latest
Fast Track Procedure rules, which enable
an applicant for asylum to be removed
from the procedure. Due to the fast paced
nature of these matters, it is important that
clients are able to access legal advisors
quickly. Duncan Lewis has 80 accredited
members of staff who are on hand to
promptly address clients’ concerns and
ensure that their rights are protected.
Representations are sent to the Home
Office at the earliest possible stage and we
ensure that the appropriate legal remedy is
pursued in each case.
If the Home Office fails to act on compelling
representations to remove an appropriate
case from the Fast Track process we can
help in relation to making an application
for Judicial Review of the Home Office
decision. Working closely with our
experienced Public Law team, we have
extensive experience of making claims
which result in compensation from the
Home Office for unlawful detention in
appropriate cases; and an impressive track
record in connection with bail applications,
which can result in significantly less time
being spent in detention.