Britain has had one of the highest death rates of migrants across Europe over the past five years.
According to an audit on the state’s treatment of asylum seekers, that is due to “racist” asylum and immigration policies.
Analysis by the London-based Institute of Race Relations thinktank found that the highest numbers of deaths of asylum seekers and migrants were in some of the most affluent countries, with the UK having the third largest death toll, during a period mostly governed by the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition, the Guardian reported Sunday.
The audit’s figures, which do not include the thousands of migrants who have died trying to enter “fortress Europe”, are due to be published next month.
The institute uncovered 22 deaths in the UK that it says are directly attributable to immigration and asylum policies, with 10 individuals dying in detention, mainly immigration removal centers, and 10 taking their own lives, usually after a failed asylum claim. Germany had the highest migrant death toll with 29, followed by Norway with 23, then the UK with 22 and France with 13.
Now London-based Political Commentator Chris Bambery says the UK’s racist policies towards migrants put an “emphasis on keeping people out of Britain” because of their skin color and other racial issues.
“Britain takes in fewer migrants than many countries in Europe, particularly Spain, Italy and Greece, but it has one of the highest figures for death of the migrants held in custody,” Bambery told Press TV’s UK Desk on Sunday.
