Gaps in UK migration statistics hamper public debate and policy decisions, study shows

"The UK's membership of ECHR is a major issue in public debate, in large part due to its impacts on migration policy. But the current data can't give us a clear picture of where and when it has most impact. This makes it harder for the public or policymakers to make an informed choice about an important decision with long-term repercussions for the UK."

"The research comes after Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, announced a series of changes to the asylum system and migration rules as she seeks to fulfil Keir Starmer's pledges to cut the overall number of people coming to the country. As part of the asylum proposals, ministers will seek to bring in legislation to prevent human rights laws being used to frustrate deportations and make it easier to remove people."

"Gaps in official migration statistics are hampering public debate and policy decisions including on cases relating to human rights laws, according to a leading thinktank. The University of Oxford's Migration Observatory has identified 10 areas where information is lacking, including immigration enforcement and returns, and the size of the population living undocumented in the UK. The research also raised how it is difficult to understand how many immigration cases are affected by the European convention on human rights (ECHR)"

Official migration statistics contain significant gaps that hinder public debate and policy decisions, including those involving human-rights laws. Ten specific information areas lack reliable data, such as immigration enforcement, returns, and the size of the undocumented population in the UK. Available data poorly capture how many immigration cases invoke the European Convention on Human Rights, who applies for and receives permission to stay under the convention, and how many successfully appeal removal decisions. Recent government asylum proposals aim to limit use of human-rights laws to prevent deportations and to make removals easier. Poorly linked administrative records make it difficult to track asylum seekers through the immigration system.

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