Amnesty groups in Chipping Norton and Banbury have written a letter calling for changes to the system dealing with asylum seekers.

We need an effective, humane and civilised system for dealing with refugees and asylum seekers.

The way our country treats refugees and asylum seekers should be regarded as primarily a humanitarian issue rather than a political one. The right to seek asylum is a mark of a humane and civilised society.

Britain was one of the key countries that developed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and we have committed under international law (the Refugee Convention 1951) to grant asylum to those with a well-founded fear of persecution in their home country.

Britain has a proud record in how it has treated people fleeing persecution in other countries.

But current Government legislative proposals in the Illegal Migration Bill fall well below the standard set by international norms and risk trashing the country’s reputation for humanity and decency in matters of asylum and refugees.

Safe and legal routes need to be provided for genuine refugees to enter the country so that small boat crossings become a thing of the past.

Automatic deportation of entrants deemed to be illegal, transportation to Rwanda, and removal of legal protections from people who are often victims of trafficking – these are not measures that are part of a humane and civilised system.

Particularly when dressed up in inflammatory language, they appeal to the worst in people rather than the best.

Britain can do better than this!

Your readers can join the efforts of ordinary people in our area to press for a better refugee and asylum system by getting in touch with us at britaincandobetter@gmail.com

Ian Myson

Banbury Amnesty International Group

John Dunleavy

Chipping Norton Amnesty International Group