The Home Office published their quarterly bulletin on Asylum statistics for January, February and March 2009, in that period:

* Asylum applications up 33%

* Removal of refused asylum applicants down 7%

* Detention up 7%

Enforcement & Compliance
* In Q1 2009, 15,840 persons were removed or departed voluntarily from the UK, 6 per cent fewer than in Q1 2008 (16,760). There was a fall of 7 per cent to 2,805 for those leaving who had claimed asylum (including dependants) and a fall of 5 per cent to 13,035 for non-asylum cases.

Top five removal destinations
Brazil - 1,560
Afghanistan - 1,450
India - 1,315
USA - 755
Pakistan - 710

* Of those leaving in Q1 2009, 7,695 persons were initially refused entry at port (7 per cent fewer than in Q1 2008), 4,575 were enforced removals and notified voluntary departures (15 per cent fewer than in Q1 2008), 1,220 persons left under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes (26 per cent higher than in Q1 2008), and 2,345 were other voluntary departures (11 per cent higher than in Q1 2008).

Persons detained solely under Immigration Act powers
A total of 2,460 persons were detained in the UK Border Agency estate, 7 per cent higher than as at the end of March 2008 (2,305).

Removals direct from IRCs
Yarl's Wood - 600
Tinsley House - 510
Oakington - 445
Campsfield House - 330
Harmondsworth - 245
Dover - 225
Dungavel -50
Haslar - 35
Brook House - 25
Lindholme - 10
Colnbrook Long Term - 5
Colnbrook Short Term - 1,245
Dover Harbour  - 160
Pennine House - 140
Harwich - 5
Total - 4,035  (of which 1,635 refused asylum)

Persons leaving detention
A total of 4,035 people (held solely under Immigration Act powers) were removed from the UK upon leaving detention in Q1 2009, 8 per cent higher than in Q1 2008 (3,740). Of these 4,035, 1,635 (41 per cent of the total) were asylum detainees, 5 per cent lower than in Q1 2008 (1,730). * 110 children were removed from the UK upon leaving detention in Q1 2009, 33 per cent lower than in Q1 2008 (160). * Of the 4,035 people removed from the UK upon leaving detention in Q1 2009, 2,480 (62 per cent of the total) left from UK Border Agency Removal Centres and 1,550 (38 per cent of the total) left from UK Border Agency Short Term Holding Facilities.

Asylum
* The number of applications for asylum, excluding dependants, was 27 per cent higher in Q1 2009 (8,380) compared with Q1 2008 (6,595).  

* Including dependants, the number of applications to the UK increased by 33 per cent in Q1 2009 (10,285) compared with Q1 2008 (7,705).  

* In Q1 2009, 5,145 initial asylum decisions were made, excluding dependants, an increase of 16 per cent compared with Q1 2008 (4,435). 59 per cent of initial decisions were refusals, 29 per cent were granted asylum and 12 per cent were granted Humanitarian Protection or Discretionary Leave.