Refugee crisis 'is all hype'.

Byline: LORNA HUGHES

THE United Nations refugee agency has accused Britain and other European countries of exaggerating the numbers of people who are seeking asylum.

UNHCR figures suggest the total claiming asylum in Europe has DROPPED by half in the past decade.

Campaigners claim Britons are being brainwashed into believing there is a refugee crisis.

The statistics have been released just as the French blame Britain for an illegal immigrant crisis.

They have accused Tony Blair's government, which has pledged to get tough on refugees, of being soft on asylum seekers.

Scots refugee campaigner Robina Qureshi said: "The UNHCR statistics prove what we have long believed. This country and other European countries are not being swamped with refugees."

A Home Office spokesman rejected the UNCHR report. He said that, from a UK perspective, application figures have steadily risen.