Nine more asylum seekers died in first half of 2023 than Home Office disclosed

Three times as many asylum seekers died during the first six months of last year than the Home Office disclosed in official information, it has emerged.

The sources added that it is a requirement for all Home Office accommodation contractors to report any deaths of asylum seekers in their care within four hours.

Human rights campaigners have condemned the Home Office for a lack of transparency and accountability about these deaths, especially at a time when concerns are mounting about an increase in mental health problems and suicide attempts among asylum seekers who may have pre-existing trauma after fleeing conflict zones.

This is alongside the distress at the imminent threat of being sent to Rwanda and despair experienced at controversial mass accommodation sites such as the Bibby Stockholm barge in Portland, Dorset and at Wethersfield in Essex.

Deborah Coles, the director of Inquest, said: “The fact that if you add a few obscure words to a freedom of information request you get a response revealing three times as many deaths of asylum seekers while in the care of the Home Office is deeply concerning.

“We know that Home Office policies have a negative impact on some asylum seekers health and some of these deaths, including those of young people, may be avoidable and need to be independently scrutinised.”