We are aware that some clients, including families with children, are experiencing difficulty registering a claim for asylum at Solihull's Midlands Enforcement Unit, and are instead being advised that they need to travel either to Liverpool or Croydon to register an asylum claim.

The UKBA's own guidance around this as follows:

"8. 4 Vulnerable cases

Offices should accept the asylum application of any asylum-seeker who may be vulnerable (i.e. there is a factor which may affect the applicant's ability to travel to an Asylum Screening Unit) and accept them in situ for asylum screening.

Under no circumstances should an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child, family with children or vulnerable person be sent to an ASU if the local enforcement office is nearer to where the minor, family with children or vulnerable person is encountered. Additionally, where the enforcement office is contacted by anyone representing anyone in the vulnerable category, even by post, it is not appropriate to direct the sponsor to attend an ASU with the child. They should be invited to attend the enforcement office as soon as possible to process the application, unless another office or ASU is nearer.

Local managers should make local decisions as to what constitutes vulnerable on a case by case basis but the following categories of asylum-seekers should always be considered as vulnerable:

. Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children
. Visibly pregnant women
. Families with children
. Asylum-seekers who are not able-bodied, and
. Asylum-seekers whose individual needs appear to require special consideration"

Consequently, if anyone appearing to meet one of these criteria should experience difficulty in registering a claim at Solihull, we would suggest contacting the UKBA's Regional Stakeholder for assistance.

Her details are as follows:

Sandra Tilley
Stakeholder Manager
UK Border Agency Midlands and East Region
Sandford House
41 Homer Road
Solihull B91 3QJ
Direct: +44 (0)121 713 3395
Mobile: + 44 (0)7990 783676