Central Government's dispersal policy has meant that a large number of asylum-seekers have moved into the West Midlands, yet statutory services have been provided with little in the way of resources to help meet these new communities' needs.

Accessible, competent and efficient legal assistance is of crucial importance and access to such assistance can frequently make the difference between life and death for asylum-seekers fleeing persecution. Similarly, in the light of increasing racist attacks against asylum-seekers and the general climate
of hostility towards the asylum seeking community, there is an urgent need to help integrate asylum-seekers into the community and ASIRT's role is to help with that process.

While there are a number of legal aid solicitors dealing with asylum applications locally, there are identifiable gaps in service provision. Amongst these gaps are:

• Long waiting lists, meaning that deadlines for initial paperwork are not being met.
  
• Solicitors dealing only with the specifics of an asylum claim but not being able to meet clients' other needs - such as access to accommodation, financial support and community links.
  
• Lack of representation at Immigration Appeal Tribunals. Anecdotal evidence suggests that, at present, as many as 50% of local IAT cases are heard without any form of advocate or supporter present.

ASIRT aims to help fill some of these gaps in service provision.