UK's failure to end asylum crisis is costing taxpayers £5bn every year

The UK’s inability to deport failed asylum seekers is fuelling an extortionate bill for taxpayers, a scathing report has revealed. The spending watchdog accused ministers of not taking a “realistic approach” to removing people with no right to seek sanctuary. And this has led to “significant” costs, the National Audit Office said.

The Home Office also does not hold any data on the number of people who have absconded from the asylum system, the number of migrants who have launched repeated appeals or the “total number of people currently subject to some form of enforcement action”. The department also doesn’t know many “unsuccessful removals” there have been. The NAO estimated the asylum crisis is costing more than £5bn a year, including almost £3bn alone in accommodation.

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