Minister defends Home Office booklet urging asylum seekers not to rape women

A minister has urged people not to make “full generalisations” about asylum seekers after the government published a guide telling them rape and domestic abuse are serious crimes.

The guidance forms part of a Home Office document entitled “Understanding behaviours and expectations in the UK” which also provides guidance on gender equality and respect in public.

The nine-page document published on Wednesday says it is to help “understand what is expected of you when living in the UK” and the “rules and expectations are not just for people seeking asylum, they apply to everyone living here”.

It advises that rape, sex with someone under the age of 16 and domestic abuse are “serious crimes” which could lead to prison and loss of support and accommodation, as well as affecting asylum claims.

School standards minister Georgia Gould said that the starting point of asylum seekers coming to this country is "understanding the laws of this country”, but warned against making “full generalisations”.

Asked about whether there are concerns about some migrants coming from other countries, she said the treatment of women in countries such as Afghanistan was “obviously very, very different and deeply concerning”.

“But it is for many people who come from Afghanistan,” she told Times Radio. “And when I used to lead Camden Council, we had a really large number of Afghan evacuees who came into Camden, and I spent many, many hours with those families. These are people who served alongside British troops who were, you know, acted as security families.

“And these were, you know, wonderful people who wanted to contribute, who had, you know, done a huge amount in their country and had a huge amount that they wanted to contribute to our country.”

In response to presenter Stig Abell saying there are some men “come from a culture which doesn't value women”, she said: “I don't think it's possible to make those kind of full generalisations.

“My experience of having worked very closely with Afghan refugees, is that, you know, that there is, you know, very many people who were so proud to be in a country that supported women.”

The booklet explains that women have equality in Britain and are free to work, study, travel and make decisions about their lives, and says anyone not following the rules may be in trouble with police or lose their accommodation and support and could have their asylum claim rejected.

The nine-page Home Office guidelines also includes phone numbers and links to sites where migrants can get help.

In the section entitled “sex and consent ”, the guidance tells asylum seekers that “consent is needed in every situation”.

The guidance also covers gender equality, saying equal rights are “an important part of UK culture… protected by law”.