UK Politics

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Where 'soft-touch' Britain's asylum seekers are REALLY coming from

Asylum claims have spiralled to all-time highs in the wake of the small boats fiasco, with 108,000 applications lodged in 2024.
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Phylo said:

The prisons overrun by foreign inmates - as Tories demand ALL overseas offenders are deported to solve overcrowding crisis​

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Revealed: The prisons overrun by foreign inmates

More than 10,800 foreigners are behind bars in England and Wales, equivalent to 12 per cent of the current prison population.
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Tories demand???

Shame they did not do so them selves when in power for so long, as it took Labour to do so now as this policy is now in process.

Typical Daily Trash tripe.
 
A Lesson for Biden UK
'We can arrest the individual this morning, process him this afternoon, and have him on a removal flight this evening, same day, saving taxpayer cost and just making it more efficient and expedited process to get these folks out of the country,' he said.

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ICE nabs murderous monster as it makes staggering number of arrests

A cold-blooded killer from Colombia was among a staggering number of illegal immigrants rounded up by ICE agents in a city-wide sting operation across Houston this week.
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It is very hard to decide what to do with the criminal system. On the one hand there are people who make a mistake and will reform, and people who were actually innocent (a small minority I hope), but then there are criminals who have had their chances, will never reform, are just a problem for society. Plus there are real sick people who are beyond reform...

And we can be nice and say, let's put them in prisons that cost the taxpayer more than the average wage in UK per year, isn;t that the humane thing to do? Well, nobody thinks of the guy or gal who isn't earning even close to the average wage and is suffering a difficult life, obeying the laws, paying taxes, trying to contribute, and his taxes that he can't even afford to pay go towards monsters in prisons.
 
RolloTape2025 said:
It is very hard to decide what to do with the criminal system. On the one hand there are people who make a mistake and will reform, and people who were actually innocent (a small minority I hope), but then there are criminals who have had their chances, will never reform, are just a problem for society. Plus there are real sick people who are beyond reform...

And we can be nice and say, let's put them in prisons that cost the taxpayer more than the average wage in UK per year, isn;t that the humane thing to do? Well, nobody thinks of the guy or gal who isn't earning even close to the average wage and is suffering a difficult life, obeying the laws, paying taxes, trying to contribute, and his taxes that he can't even afford to pay go towards monsters in prisons.
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Good read and lessons to learn here. https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/...countries have very,world at about 20 percent.
 
Atilla said:
Good read and lessons to learn here. https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=bridges#:~:text=The Scandinavian countries have very,world at about 20 percent.
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It's definitely interesting. And based on that, it seems some Scandinavian countries can reform better than many other countries. I vaguely remember watching a documentary (BBC or Channel 4) which went into a Norwegian prison and it was quite casual in ways. Unfortunately I know that some people can never be reformed.

I think most people deserve a chance to reform, and help in doing so, but I don't think the expense to normal law abiding people is right as things currently stand. I don't think the 'incentives' are right.

On a non-UK point, US seems to have turned criminalisation almost into a profitable business.
 
RolloTape2025 said:
It's definitely interesting. And based on that, it seems some Scandinavian countries can reform better than many other countries. I vaguely remember watching a documentary (BBC or Channel 4) which went into a Norwegian prison and it was quite casual in ways. Unfortunately I know that some people can never be reformed.

I think most people deserve a chance to reform, and help in doing so, but I don't think the expense to normal law abiding people is right as things currently stand. I don't think the 'incentives' are right.

On a non-UK point, US seems to have turned criminalisation almost into a profitable business.
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Agree in many respects but I feel our moral compass is set at a very tender age. In UK being a thugg is respected and celebrated in our drinking so called "culture" in many ways. Hence, Norwegian prison reforms would not work the same way on British in-mates as they do on their own citizens.

It would certainly help but one has to catch them young, improve parenting and resources to young people with children. Most of our resources seem to go to looking after the elderly and vegetables.
 

Monetary Cost and Effects of Illegal Recreational Drugs to UK Society and Economy​

Illegal recreational drug use imposes a substantial monetary burden on UK society and the economy, with wide-ranging effects that extend beyond direct financial costs to broader social harms.

Total Economic and Social Cost
  • The UK government estimates that illegal drugs cost society approximately £20 billion per year17. This figure encompasses both direct and indirect costs, including healthcare, crime, lost productivity, and the impact on public services.
  • The value of the illicit drugs market itself is estimated at £9.4 billion2, but the societal costs far exceed the market value due to the broader consequences of drug misuse.
Breakdown of Costs
  • Crime and Policing: Drug-related crime is a major component, accounting for nearly £10 billion of the total annual cost1. This includes costs related to policing, the criminal justice system, and incarceration.
  • Healthcare: Treating drug misuse and its health consequences costs the NHS hundreds of millions of pounds annually. For example, in 2014, NHS costs for treating drug misuse were estimated at £0.5 billion5. Drug misuse leads to increased rates of infectious diseases, overdoses, and long-term health conditions, further straining healthcare resources6.
  • Lost Productivity: Substance abuse leads to absenteeism, decreased job performance, workplace accidents, and higher turnover, all of which contribute to lost productivity and increased costs for employers and the wider economy6.
  • Social Services and Community Impact: Drug addiction contributes to homelessness, unemployment, domestic abuse, and family breakdown. Communities with high drug use experience declining property values and increased antisocial behavior, which can deter investment and further erode social cohesion46.
Broader Societal Effects
  • Violence and Exploitation: The illegal drug trade fuels violence, with around half of homicides linked to gangs involved in drug distribution. Vulnerable individuals, including children, are often exploited by criminal networks13.
  • Health and Mortality: Drug misuse is a leading cause of premature death. In 2021, nearly 3,000 people in England died due to drug misuse, with thousands more suffering complex health problems14.
  • Family and Children: Families affected by drug addiction face emotional distress, financial instability, and adverse outcomes for children, including increased risk of substance abuse and educational challenges6.

References​

  1. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5804/cmselect/cmpubacc/72/report.html
  2. https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2024-0050/
  3. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/illicit-drug-users-to-face-tougher-consequences
  4. https://socialinterestgroup.org.uk/...-are-bad-approach-has-only-made-things-worse/
  5. http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CDP-2017-0230/CDP-2017-0230.pdf
  6. https://www.anatreatmentcentres.com/social-impact-of-drugs/
  7. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-drugs-phase-one-report/review-of-drugs-summary
 
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Monetary Cost and Effects of Tobacco to UK Society and Economy​

Tobacco use costs England £21.8 billion annually, a 25% increase from previous estimates1310. Broader societal costs rise to £43.7 billion when accounting for lost productivity, healthcare, social care, and fire-related expenses259.

1. Healthcare Burden
  • The NHS spends £1.9 billion annually treating smoking-related illnesses, including cancer, heart disease, and COPD135.
  • Smoking-related hospital admissions and primary care treatments further strain healthcare resources79.
2. Lost Productivity
  • £18.3 billion is lost annually due to reduced workforce participation, absenteeism, and premature deaths1310.
  • Smokers are 2.5 times more likely to have unmet care needs, exacerbating economic inactivity8.
3. Social Care Costs
  • Local authorities spend £1.2 billion annually on social care for smoking-related disabilities13.
  • Informal care provided by family and friends costs an additional £8.4 billion, with 450,000 people lacking adequate support89.
4. Broader Societal Impact
  • £328 million is spent annually on smoking-related fires59.
  • Smokers face higher rates of social isolation, unemployment, and reduced earnings, worsening inequality47.

Fiscal Imbalance​

  • Tobacco tax revenue (£6.8 billion) covers only a fraction of the £16.5 billion net public finance loss caused by smoking25.
  • For every £1 spent on tobacco control, £2.50 is saved in societal costs, yet investment remains insufficient59.

References​

  1. ASH Press Release: £21.8 Billion Cost
  2. ASH Economic Impact Report
  3. ADPH Cost Analysis
  4. Imperial College Study on Social Isolation
  5. ASH: £43.7 Billion Societal Cost
  6. ASH: £17 Billion Annual Cost
  7. ASH: £17.3 Billion Economic Toll
  8. ASH: Social Care Needs
  9. ASH: £49.2 Billion Total Cost
  10. Dentistry.co.uk Report
 
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Monetary Cost and Effects of Alcohol on UK Society and Economy​

Monetary Cost of Alcohol Harm
  • Alcohol harm costs society in England £27.44 billion each year, according to a 2024 estimate by the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS), with support from Balance238.
  • Estimates for the whole UK, including Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, range between £27 billion and £52 billion annually46.
  • This cost has risen by over 40% since the last comprehensive calculation in 20033.
  • The economic burden on the NHS alone is £4.9 billion per year, enough to pay for almost half the nurses in England3.
Breakdown of Costs
  • Direct costs:
    • Health services (NHS treatment, hospital admissions)
    • Criminal justice system (policing, courts, prisons)
    • Emergency services (paramedics, police time)238
  • Indirect costs:
    • Lost productivity due to premature death, sickness, and absenteeism
    • Loss of quality of life for drinkers and their families
    • Drink driving collisions leading to higher insurance rates28
Economic Contribution of the Alcohol Industry
  • The alcohol industry contributes around £46 billion a year to the UK economy (about 2.5% of GDP)1.
  • It supports approximately 770,000 jobs, mostly in pubs, clubs, and bars, which are typically part-time and low-paid15.
  • Tax revenue from alcohol is about £12.5 billion per year, which is significantly less than the cost of alcohol-related harm3.
Net Economic Impact
  • The cost of alcohol harm (£27.44 billion) far exceeds the tax revenue generated by alcohol sales (£12.5 billion)3.
  • The overall effect of alcohol on the UK economy is negative when accounting for health, productivity, and social costs238.
  • Reducing alcohol consumption is unlikely to harm the UK economy and may even have positive effects, such as increased productivity and reduced public spending on health and criminal justice125.
  • Studies suggest that reallocating spending away from alcohol to other sectors could boost employment and economic activity in the long term15.
Health and Social Effects
  • Over 10,000 people die from alcohol-related causes each year in the UK, with a significant rise in deaths from alcohol-related liver disease3.
  • Alcohol is linked to a wide range of social harms, including family breakdown, violence, and road traffic accidents28.

References​

  1. https://www.ias.org.uk/uploads/pdf/IAS summary briefings/sb15022017.pdf
  2. https://www.ias.org.uk/factsheet/economy/
  3. https://britishlivertrust.org.uk/27-4-billion-cost-of-alcohol-harm-in-england-every-year/
  4. https://www.adph.org.uk/2023/07/aaw23/
  5. https://fraserofallander.org/wp-con...t-of-changes-in-alcohol-consumption-in-UK.pdf
  6. https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/research/alcohol-facts-and-data/alcohol-consumption-uk-consequences
  7. https://www.ias.org.uk/report/the-costs-of-alcohol-to-society/
 
For illegal drugs, I think it is better to legalise the less harmful ones, cannabis for example. That decreases the costs associated with crime, increases tax revenue and has worked ok in many countries. It is hard to morally justify allowing a very addictive and dangerous drug like alcohol to be sold freely, and nicotine another addictive and poisonous drug for so many years and then outlaw and arrest someone for cannabis.

Sadly lots of people need to self-medicate, because the medical industry cannot help whichever issue they have, or in some cases the medical industry makes it worse. Also it is a shame that there aren't better resources for people who already have a drink or drug problem.

I don't like "Lost productivity" in these sort of national calculations as it seems to assume the country is losing something it should have
 
Atilla said:
Agree in many respects but I feel our moral compass is set at a very tender age. In UK being a thugg is respected and celebrated in our drinking so called "culture" in many ways. Hence, Norwegian prison reforms would not work the same way on British in-mates as they do on their own citizens.

It would certainly help but one has to catch them young, improve parenting and resources to young people with children. Most of our resources seem to go to looking after the elderly and vegetables.
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I never celebrated that thug culture. I agree there is too much of a drinking culture in UK. I don't know why. There must be a reason.

When I was recently abroad, I was sitting overlooking the sea, in the restaurant, people were coming and going, some just sit down and have a glass of wine and a chat, others a wine with some food. It was all very relaxed and if there is a healthy way to consume alcohol, this seemed like it. But there wasn't anyone trying to say, "let's do some shots, let's down this pint, Jagerbombs time" or any of that nonsense. Just peaceful adults unwinding.

I think some of the laws around 'closing time' didn't help. It encouraged people to get lots of drinks in before closing time, and as you probably know, the full effect of what you just drank has a delay. So you have a lot of people drinking more than they should before closing time, not realising they are about to be very drunk, and then making a decision about whether to go to a nightclub and drink some more until 3am.
 
RolloTape2025 said:
I never celebrated that thug culture. I agree there is too much of a drinking culture in UK. I don't know why. There must be a reason.

When I was recently abroad, I was sitting overlooking the sea, in the restaurant, people were coming and going, some just sit down and have a glass of wine and a chat, others a wine with some food. It was all very relaxed and if there is a healthy way to consume alcohol, this seemed like it. But there wasn't anyone trying to say, "let's do some shots, let's down this pint, Jagerbombs time" or any of that nonsense. Just peaceful adults unwinding.

I think some of the laws around 'closing time' didn't help. It encouraged people to get lots of drinks in before closing time, and as you probably know, the full effect of what you just drank has a delay. So you have a lot of people drinking more than they should before closing time, not realising they are about to be very drunk, and then making a decision about whether to go to a nightclub and drink some more until 3am.
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I read a newspaper report once about a brilliant student who having got into university, went round a pub crawl with the new mates he'd found.

He ended up dying from alcohol poisening. I felt so awful hearing his parents talk I almost cried my self at the thought of losing my son to such an event. I'm happy to say my children rarely drink and well behaved.

The thought of bright intelligent young adults thinking a pub crawl is good fun; kind of crazy. Get stupified and have your lights turned out, waking up like sh!t the next morning is fun so they say. Amazing!

Yes definitely, drinking by our neighbours in Europe is totally a different experience to drinking in the UK.
 
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