Attitudes towards Asylum Seekers for 'Refugee Week'

A new wide-ranging public opinion poll carried out by MORI Social Research Institute and published on the eve of Refugee Week (17-23 June) tried to ascertain the British public's attitudes to refugees and asylum seekers, their knowledge about refugees and their perception of the media coverage.

Almost two thirds (62%) spontaneously gave one of the following reasons why someone would leave their own country to seek asylum as a refugee in another country: escape persecution (43%), war (24%), escape torture (9%). In terms of knowledge about refugees the poll shows that the public grossly overestimates the number of refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. Though the UK hosts just 1.98% of the world's asylum seekers and refugees, the public estimated a number 10 times higher, believing on average that Britain hosts nearly a quarter (23%) of the world's refugees and asylum seekers.

The respondents were asked what would be most important to themselves if they were forced to seek refuge in a safe foreign country. The most popular response by far, chosen by 44%, was "to be able to work to provide for myself and family". Current policy prohibits asylum seekers working for six months.

After this option, 32% of respondents identified "freedom from persecution", with 28% each saying they would like "their case for asylum fairly considered" and "health care".

The MORI SRI survey also found that the public predominantly associates negative words and phrases with media coverage of asylum ¹. Overall, 85% of respondents associated negative words with media reporting. Two-thirds (64%) said that the media most use the term "illegal immigrant" when referring to refugees and asylum seekers, yet refugees and asylum seekers are not in the UK illegally ². Other words commonly associated with media coverage were "desperate", "foreigners", "bogus" and "scroungers".

In sixth place, 20% identified the phrase "persecuted". At the other end of the scale, words not readily associated with media coverage and chosen by just 1-2% of respondents were: "skilled", "talented", "intelligent", "hard working" and "welcome".

MORI SRI conducted the same research with 15-18 year olds, the results of which show that young people's attitudes differed from the population as a whole and were broadly less well informed. On average they believed that the UK takes 31% of the world's refugees and asylum seekers, with only 4% selecting the correct figure.

What may be more significant is that this young age group is less likely to be welcoming to asylum seekers and refugees in their community. Of those who were interviewed, only 19% said they would be welcoming to asylum seekers/refugees in their community, compared with 26% of adults.

Amnesty International UK, the Commonwealth Institute, RefAid, Refugee Action, Refugee Council, Save the Children UK and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) commissioned the poll for publication during Refugee Week.

Refugee Week 2002, running from June 17 to June 23, celebrates the contribution of refugees to the UK and encourages people to take a positive look at the asylum issue in Britain.

Notes

1. Respondents were shown a list of words and asked which three the media most use when referring to refugees and asylum seekers. MORI classified some words as negative, some as positive and some as neutral. Negative words: bogus, beggars, illegal immigrant, scroungers, soft touch, unskilled Positive words: survivor, skilled, intelligent, persecuted, prisoners of conscience, talented, hard working, tortured, welcome. Neutral: desperate, determined, economic migrant, foreigners 85% selected a negative term while only 35% chose a positive one.
2. The phrase "illegal immigrant" was found in January 2002 by the Advertising Standards Authority to be racist, offensive and misleading. Asylum seekers are not in the UK illegally: seeking asylum is a fundamental human right protected by international law.
3. A series of nationwide events to celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK takes place during Refugee Week 2002, for more information visit: www.refugeeweek.org.uk
4. The full MORI poll report 'Attitudes towards Refugee and Asylum Seekers: A Survey of Public Opinion' is available please contact one of the people named top right.

Topline results

MORI interviewed a representative quota sample of 2,166 adults aged 15+, in-home and face-to-face, at 196 sampling points throughout Great Britain. Fieldwork was conducted among 15-18 year olds between 18-22 April 2002, and all adults aged 15+ between 2-7 May 2002.

• Questions were asked over two waves of the MORI Omnibus: the first wave 18-22 April 2002; the second 2-7 May 2002
• During the first wave, 15-18 years olds were interviewed; all those aged 15+ were interviewed during the second wave
• An asterisk (*) indicates a percentage of less than 0.5% but greater than zero
• Data have been weighted to reflect the national profile
• Base all, unless otherwise stated
• Question 1 gives trend data from previous surveys. Questions 2-5 give results for 2002, as there are no trends.

Q In general, why do you think someone would leave their own country to seek asylum as a refugee in another country? And for what other reasons?

Q If you were a refugee, seeking safety in a foreign country, which three, if any, of the following would be most important to you?

Q Based on what you know, what percentage of the world's refugees and asylum seekers are in the UK?

Q Thinking about media coverage of asylum seekers and refugees in the UK, which three of these words, if any, do you feel the media most uses when referring to asylum seekers and refugees?

Q Which of the following, if any, describes how you would be most likely to act towards asylum seekers in your community? I would ...