Welcome to the APCI Website

Tenth Meeting: 1 May 2008
Reference material has now been published from the Tenth meeting. View papers here.

The work of the Advisory Panel on Country Information (APCI)

The Home Office produces information about conditions in asylum seekers' countries of origin for use by caseworkers and others involved in processing asylum applications. The function of the Advisory Panel is to review and provide advice about the country of origin information material produced by the Home Office, to help ensure that it is as accurate, balanced, impartial and up to date as possible.

The Advisory Panel is chaired by Dr Khalid Koser.
Membership of the Advisory Panel is made up of individuals and organisations operating in the country information and / or the refugee fields. All papers and minutes of the Panel's meetings are published on this site.

The Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency

In March 2007 the government announced new proposals for an independent body to provide a transparent assessment of the UK Border Agency and its services. The post of Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency was created by the UK Borders Act 2007. The work of the APCI has been transferred to the Chief Inspector, who will review country information as part of his annual report to Parliament. 

John Vine CBE QPM has been appointed by the Home Secretary as the first Chief Inspector. He took up his post on 7 July 2008.

Comments

The Advisory Panel welcomes comments on Home Office Country of Origin Information material. Comments should be sent by email to apci@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk.

Please do not send comments regarding asylum operational or policy matters as these do not fall within the remit of the Advisory Panel and will not be responded to.