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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> England and Wales Court of Appeal (Civil Division) Decisions >> N v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2006] EWCA Civ 1166 (07 July 2006) URL: http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2006/1166.html Cite as: [2006] EWCA Civ 1166 |
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IN THE COURT OF APPEAL (CIVIL DIVISION)
ON APPEAL FROM ASYLUM & IMMIGRATION TRIBUNAL
[AIT No. AS/15631/2004]
Strand London, WC2 |
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B e f o r e :
LADY JUSTICE ARDEN
LORD JUSTICE NEUBERGER
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N | CLAIMANT/APPELLANT | |
- v - | ||
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT | DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT |
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Smith Bernal Wordwave Limited
190 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2AG
Tel No: 020 7404 1400 Fax No: 020 7831 8838
Official Shorthand Writers to the Court)
MS S BROADFOOT (instructed by The Treasury Solicitor, WC2B 4TS) appeared on behalf of the Respondent
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Crown Copyright ©
"42. He states … that the appellant suffers from psychological disorder, the main feature of which is disassociation, that is a state of being cut off from himself and to some degree from the world around him. Manifestations of this state include the experiences of de-personalisation (that is of the self not feeling real) and de-realisation (that is of the world not seeming real). He has confirmed that at a superficial level, the appellant seems to be well adjusted, but that to conclude from his manner that he is well adjusted would constitute a serious misunderstanding of his mode of psychological functioning.
43. In addition to disassociation, the appellant also manifested typical symptoms of depressive disorder. Dr Bell has commented that there are 'further episodic more severe disturbances when he becomes more acutely depressed and anxious', although this appears to be based on what the appellant told Dr Bell, rather than on Dr Bell's own observations.
44. On the following page of his report …, Dr Bell has stated:
'It is clear to me that [Mr N] is a very seriously vulnerable individual. If the supports that maintain him were not there he would be likely to manifest the typical symptoms of severe post traumatic state in a much more seriously deteriorated state than currently is the case. It would not in my view be possible to fabricate this degree of disorder'.
45. On the subsequent page of his report …, Dr Bell has stated:
'It is clear to me, as I have described above, that [Mr N] suffers from severe psychological disorder and this the [sic] disorder is entirely consistent with the history described. I have explained that his current level of functioning is entirely context dependent and does not represent any significant degree of psychological recovery. Of prime importance here is his relationship with the Wells family. He is clearly emotionally and psychologically part of that family.
Further he derives considerable support from his capacity to pursue his college work and from his exceptional athletic ability.
The consequences for him of removal are twofold. Firstly, and pre-eminently, removal would suddenly detach him from those vital supports (I refer here to his being part of a family, the Wells family) that has [sic] served to support him. Breaking of these highly significant attachments would be experienced as a violent psychological assault which would in itself be sufficient to cause a serious breakdown. Further the absence of these supportive structures would deprive him of this ongoing source of deep reassurance and support. Again, this would be sufficient to cause a serious breakdown. It is also clear that he would be deprived of the important relationships he has formed with his trainers and college teachers – the significance of these relationships should not be underestimated'.
46. Finally, on the last page of his report … Dr Bell has stated:
'So, it is clear to me that return, for the reasons stated, would result in a precipitate psychiatric breakdown. The exact form of this breakdown cannot be accurately predicted. It is likely to be a severe depressive breakdown with features of severe anxiety. There is a real possibility that the breakdown could be of a psychotic nature.
I do not think that [Mr N] is at serious risk of self-harm or suicide in his current state. However if he were removed, the breakdown which would be consequent upon this, would very substantially raise the risk of self-harm or completed suicide'".
"As regards the situation which would face him on removal to Kenya, [counsel] pointed out that he had not lived there since he was nine months old, and did not speak Kiswahili. She relied upon the report dated 29 No0vember 2005 prepared by Topi Charles Lyambila, a Kenyan broadcaster and media personality, in relation to the general situation which would face the appellant on removal to Kenya. In arriving at our assessment, it would be necessary to consider the appellant's personal circumstances, and what he would lose by his removal. He would be at risk of a potentially catastrophic breakdown. As stated by Mr Lyambila at paragraph 4 of his report, unemployment levels in Kenya were currently running at 46 per cent. There would be little prospect of the Wells family being able to visit the appellant in Kenya because of their modest financial circumstances."
"78. During the course of her submissions, Ms Cronin argued that the correct approach to our assessment in relation to the Article 8 claim was that identified by Lord Bingham of Cornhill in his speech in ex parte Razgar (above) at paragraph 17 in the following terms:
'(1) Will the proposed removal be an interference by a public authority with the exercise of the applicant's right to respect for his private or (as the case may be) family life?
(2) If so, will such interference have consequences of such gravity as potentially to engage the operation of Article 8?
(3) If so, is such interference in accordance with the law?
(4) If so, is such interference necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security, public safety or the economic well-being of the country, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others?
(5) If so, is such interference proportionate to the legitimate public end sought to be achieved?'
"However, despite having given the most careful consideration to the evidence, both oral and documentary which is before us, including the medical evidence referred to above, we are not persuaded that the relationship between the appellant on the one hand and the Wells family on the other hand shows such a degree of dependency, continued contact or emotional links as to distinguish it from that of the normal bonds of mutual love and affection which are commonly to be found between loving parents and their adult children, or (in the case of the Wells sons) between adult siblings. Accordingly, whilst there is plainly a degree of a family life subsisting between the appellant on the one hand and the members of the Wells family on the other, we conclude that it does not reach the threshold necessary to engage Article 8. However, for the reasons which appear below, even if we had to come to the contrary conclusion on this issue, it is not one which would have affected the overall outcome of this reconsideration in any event."
"'59. The true position in our judgment is that the HRA [Human Rights Act 1998] and section 65(1) [of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999] require the Adjudicator to allow an appeal against removal or deportation brought on Article 8 grounds if, but only if, he concludes that the case is so exceptional on its particular facts that the imperative of proportionality demands an outcome in the appellant's favour notwithstanding that he cannot succeed under the [Immigration[ Rules.
60. In such a case the Adjudicator is not ignoring or overriding the Rules. On the contrary it is a signal feature of his task that he is bound to respect the balance between public interest and private right struck by the rules with Parliament's approval. That is why he is only entitled on Article 8 grounds to favour an appellant outside the Rules where the case is truly exceptional'".
"91. In arriving at our assessment regarding proportionality, there are a number of factors which count in the appellant's favour. They include the fact that he is plainly on close and affectionate terms with the members of the Wells family, particularly Mr and Mrs Wells and their son Louis, and that they are on close and affectionate terms with him. In addition, the country to which it is proposed to return him, namely Kenya, is one in which he has never lived, apart from the first nine months of his life, and is therefore one of which he naturally has no recollection. He does not speak Kiswahili, although he does have a good command of English. On the other hand, it is relevant to note that the appellant grew up in an adjoining East African country, namely Uganda, and is therefore naturally familiar with the culture in that part of the world. His situation is therefore somewhat different from that of someone who had been brought up in the United Kingdom, and who had never lived in East Africa.
92. A weighty factor in the appellant's favour is the medical evidence adduced on his behalf, particularly that of Dr Bell. Although Dr Bell's assessment was based on a single interview lasting just two hours, and was made without the benefit of any reference to pre-existing psychiatric or clinical records (there appear to be none of any relevance), nevertheless for the reasons stated above, we proceed on the basis that the diagnosis expressed in his report is one which was properly open to him. He has expressed concerns as to the effect of removal on the appellant's future mental well-being. That is plainly material evidence which we have therefore taken into account in arriving at our assessment.
93. However, we have also taken into account the objective evidence (which Ms Cronin did not seek to dispute) contained in the Country Information and Policy Unit Assessment in the terms set out at paragraph 54 above to the effect that 'medical treatment in Kenya is generally very good'. Accordingly, we find that there would be facilities available for the appllant's treatment, if that were to prove necessary following his return.
94. The appellant's removal from the United Kingdom would clearly constitute an interference with his studies, although that interference would now be less than would have been previously in light of the fact that he has just finished the college course on which he has been engaged in the recent past, and is awaiting the outcome of his application for admission to a British university. In addition, the appellant's removal would plainly also prevent his continued attendance and training at the athletics club of which he has been a member for the last two and a half years, although we are entitled to take judicial notice, as we do, of the fact that the country to which it is proposed to remove him, namely Kenya, is one which has during the last decade or two produced, and continues to produce, a disproportionate and enviable number of world-class middle and long distance runners. There is therefore no evidential basis for supposing that the appellant would be unable to pursue his athletic ambitions on return to Kenya, albeit not necessarily with the same degree of support which he currently enjoys in the United Kingdom".
"95. There are, however, a number of factors which count against the appellant. In particular, he is no longer a minor, but is now an adult of 19 years of age. Furthermore, he is fit and healthy, and does not suffer from any disability, physical or mental. He is clearly a committed and hardworking student, who has shown by his actions that he is capable of pursuing his aims and ambitions I a committed and focused manner, as is evidenced in particular by his achievements on the running track.
96. He has also lived on his own for a significant period of time of at least two years. He is clearly capable of looking after himself without the necessity for continuous parental supervision or guidance.
97. A further factor which counts against the appellant is that he does not have, and has never had, any form of leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom, apart from a relatively short period of leave granted to him on an exceptional basis until his 18th birthday in accordance with the respondent's normal policy regarding unaccompanied minors. The appellant has therefore known from the outset that his prospects of being allowed to remain in the United Kingdom beyond his 18th birthday, only a few months away at the date of grant, were at highest no more than precarious.
98. We also take account of the fact that he has not been in the United Kingdom for a lengthy period. He arrived in the United Kingdom a little over two and a half years ago, in April 2003. He has known since September 2003, some six months after his arrival, when his first appeal was dismissed, that he would have to leave the country when he attained full age in April 2004, less than a year after his arrival. He has therefore known since that time that he has been living on 'borrowed time', as it is only the time taken to exhaust his appeal rights which has delayed his removal since his attainment of full age.
99. Whilst it would certainly be difficult for the Wells family to continue supporting the appellant from afar following his return to Kenya, their commitment to do so to the best of their ability, financially and otherwise, is not in doubt. That fact is one which emerged clearly from the evidence which they gave before us".
"100. Weighing all these factors in the balance, we are not persuaded that the appellant's case is one which could properly be characterised as one in which 'the imperative of proportionality demands an outcome in the appellant's favour notwithstanding that he cannot succeed under the [Immigration Rules]'. Neither are we persuaded that it is one which may fairly be regarded as truly exceptional. On the contrary, to those members of the judiciary who sit on a regular basis in this Tribunal, or who have sat on such a basis in its predecessor, the Immigration Appellate Authority, the situation in which the appellant finds himself is one which is by no means exceptional, let alone truly exceptional. On the contrary, it is one which is encountered in one form or another on a frequent basis.
101. The effects of removal on the appellant and the members of the Wells family, particularly Mr and Mrs Wells, and their [son] Louis, will plainly be very distressing for all of them. The situation which will face the appellant on removal to Kenya, the country of his birth, but a country of which he has no recollection, will equally plainly be difficult for him, to put it at its lowest, although that difficulty will be ameliorated to the same extent by the support from afar which he will undoubtedly receive from the Wells family. If our assessment were to take into consideration only the effects of remoal on these particular individuals in a vacuum, we might well be tempted to come to a different conclusion.
102. However, our assessment is not one which can properly be made in a vacuum. On the contrary, it is one which must be made in the context of the wider public interest in maintaining a fair and consistent system of immigration control. It is a truism that 'hard cases make bad law'. This is one such example.
103. Whilst we are only too conscious of the distress, both to the appellant himself and to the members of the Wells family, which our decision will inevitably cause, we can see no basis on which we could properly conclude that the appellant's case is one which may fairly be characterised as 'truly exceptional', such that his removal from the United Kingdom would constitute a disproportionate interference with his right to respect for family and private life under Article 8. Accordingly, there is no basis on which we could properly conclude that his removal would constitute a breach of his human rights.
Accordingly they dismissed the appellant's appeal.
"Furthermore, he [that, of course, is the appellant] is fit and healthy, and does not suffer from any disability, physical or mental."
It is said that that was inconsistent with the evidence of Dr Bell as to the state of mind and mental health of the appellant and that the Tribunal had effectively accepted that Dr Bell's evidence was to be treated as "undisputed by the respondent" – that is, the Secretary of State.
"A physical or mental condition which has a significant adverse effect on his ability to perform day to day activities".
"A physical or mental condition (usually permanent) that limits a person's activities or senses, especially the ability to work".
"…now regards [Mr and Mrs Wells] and their three sons as his family. They care about him a good deal, and he sees Doreen Wells and her son Louis twice a week. In addition, he sometimes meets them at the weekend for social events".
"28. … she is the person in whom the appellant confides and upon whom he relies whenever he is depressed, lonely or just feeling bad. He has no one other than her and her family. He is therefore very emotionally dependent on them".
"34. … that the appellant had become a permanent member of their family, and there was a strong bond between him and their other sons".
"He [that is, Mr Bell] has expressed concerns as to the effect of removal on the appellant's future mental well-being."
"35. …
a. The essential object of Article 8 is to protect individuals against arbitrary conduct. A person has a Convention right that the government should respect his or her private or family life;
b. In immigration matters the state has a right to control the entry of non-nationals into its territory. Thus:
i. the exclusion of persons from the United Kingdom does not generally raise issues under Article 8;
ii. There is no obligation on the state to accept the choice made by a person ("A"), who has not been admitted to live in the United Kingdom, of the place where he or she would like to have a private or family life with another person ("B") who has similarly not been admitted to live in the United Kingdom. (see Abdulaziz, Cabales and Balkandali v United Kingdom [1985] 7 EHHR 471, cited in Huang v Home Secretary [2006] QB 1, para 48.
c. It is only in a truly exceptional case that an unlawful immigrant can successfully oppose his removal by reliance on Article 8 (see R(Razgar) v Home Secretary [2004] 2 AC 368, para 20 per Lord Bingham, and Huang, para 60.)
d. If A claims a right to remain in the United Kingdom in reliance on Article 8 and his right to respect for his or her family life with B, it is a relevant consideration that they formed their relationship at a time when their status was precarious: see Abdulaziz, Cabales and Balkandali v United Kingdom, para 68. If A cannot be removed because of Article 8, he or she would be in a better position than a person who applies to be admitted to live in the United Kingdom from abroad through the normal channels…"
"60. It is a signal feature of [the adjudicator's] task that he is bound to respect the balance between public interest and private right struck by the Rules with Parliament's approval. That is why he is only entitled on Article 8 grounds to favour an appellant outside the Rules where the case is truly exceptional".
Later in the paragraph:
"The adjudicator's decision of the question whether the case is truly exceptional is entirely his own.
Later:
"There will be a residue of truly exceptional instances. In our respectful view such an approach is also reflected in Lord Bingham's words in R(Razgar) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2004] 2 AC 368, paragraph 20 … :
'Decisions taken pursuant to the lawful operation of immigration control will be proportionate in all save a small minority of exceptional cases, identifiable only a case by case basis'".
"To those members of the judiciary who sit on a regular basis in this Tribunal, or who have sat on such a basis in its predecessor, the Immigration Appellate Authority, the situation in which the appellant finds himself is one which is by no means exceptional, let alone truly exceptional. On the contrary, it is one which is encountered in one form or another on a frequent basis".
"He [that is, the appellant] is fit and healthy and does not suffer from any disability, physical or mental".
That, submits Miss Cronin, is inconsistent with their apparent acceptance at paragraph 76 of the conclusions of Dr Bell.
"23. He confirmed that he was in good physical health and had not received any treatment for stress in the United Kingdom."
In my judgment, in saying what they did in paragraph 95 the Tribunal had that limited purpose. It was a legitimate matter to set out in their report, and it does not follow that they did not have in mind or were ignoring the medical evidence of Dr Bell.
"They include the fact that he is plainly on close and affectionate terms with members of the Wells family, particularly Mr and Mrs Wells and their son Louis, and that they are on close and affectionate terms with him."
"The situation which will face the appellant on removal to Kenya, the country of his birth, but a country of which he has no recollection, will equally plainly be difficult for him, to put it at its lowest".
"Although that difficulty will be ameliorated to the same extent by the support from afar which he will undoubtedly receive from the Wells family".
That, submits Miss Cronin, is a plain error, and she invites the court to compare it with paragraph 99, where the limitations on the ability of the Wells family to assist the appellant on his return to Kenya are set out. In my judgment there must either be a typographical error or a clerical error in setting out what the Tribunal intended to say. The expression "will be ameliorated to some extent" is a conventional one, and it is in the context of a partial assistance that the word ameliorated is almost always used. The Tribunal cannot have intended to say that the situation would be wholly equalised by the limited ability of the Wells family to assist from a distance. I am quite unable to conclude that the Tribunal were under any misapprehensions about that, or that any error of substance was made.
Order: Appeal dismissed.