LONDON, Aug 23: Application for asylum to Britain between April and June fell 11 per cent from the previous quarter thanks to a range of government measures, the Home Office said on Tuesday.

Home Office figures showed the number of applications — 6,220 excluding dependants — was down 21 per cent compared to the same period in 2004.

The number of applications for asylum have fallen 76 per cent from a peak in October 2002 due to tougher government rules, the Home Office claimed.

Immigration minister Tom McNulty said: “The figures published today show we are continuing to cut the number of asylum applications, now down by more than three quarters, an enormous 76 per cent since their peak in October 2002.

“The government will continue to crack down on abuse of our immigration systems.”—AFP