UK Home Office nine-page guide tells asylum seekers rape is a crime and women need no male permission
LONDON, Aug 20. Britain's Home Office has published a nine-page guide for asylum seekers that states, in plain terms, that rape is a criminal offence, that women may work and travel without male consent, and that sexual harassment in public carries legal consequences. The document appears targeted primarily at men, according to the guidance itself.
Key takeaways
- Britain's Home Office has published a nine-page guide for asylum seekers stating that rape is a serious crime, that women may work and travel without male permission, and that sexual harassment in public carries legal consequences.
- The guide warns that having sex without consent is rape and could lead to prison, loss of support and accommodation, and harm to the person's asylum claim.
- The document, which appears targeted primarily at men, covers gender equality, domestic abuse, sex and consent, public conduct, obtaining help, and life in the UK.
- A Home Office spokesperson said the government expects all arrivals to obey UK law, with non-compliance risking refusal of the asylum claim and removal from the country.
- Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said the government should deport those who need such instruction rather than teach them conduct standards.
LONDON, Aug 20. Britain's Home Office has published a nine-page guide for asylum seekers that states, in plain terms, that rape is a criminal offence, that women may work and travel without male consent, and that sexual harassment in public carries legal consequences. The document appears targeted primarily at men, according to the guidance itself.
The booklet covers gender equality, domestic abuse, sex and consent, public conduct, obtaining help, and life in the United Kingdom. Its language is unambiguous. "Women do not need permission from a husband, father, brother, or any other man to do any of these things," the document states, referring to a woman's right to attend school, choose a spouse, earn money, and travel freely.
On consent, the guide states that both parties must agree to sex without threat or pressure and that either person may withdraw at any time. "If you have sex with someone without their consent, this is called rape. Rape is a serious crime in the UK. You could go to prison, lose your support and accommodation, and it will affect your asylum claim," it reads. Anyone under 16 is defined as a child who cannot legally consent to sex.
Conduct in public and at home
The domestic abuse section warns that physical or emotional abuse of a partner can result in arrest and imprisonment. The guide bars directing sexual comments at strangers, following or obstructing someone's path, and whistling or making kissing noises in public. Support hotline numbers for victims of sexual and domestic abuse appear at the close of each section and again at the back of the booklet.
A Home Office spokesperson told GB News the government expects all arrivals to obey UK law, with failure to comply carrying consequences that include refusal of the asylum claim and removal from the country. The spokesperson said returns of failed asylum seekers have reached their highest level since 2010 under the current government. Since the Labour Party took office in July 2024, nearly 70,000 illegal immigrants and foreign criminals have been returned or deported from the United Kingdom, the BBC reported.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said the government should deport those who require such instruction rather than attempt to teach conduct standards, describing the intended audience as "mainly young, male illegal immigrants."