The Refugee Council's submission, made in 2011, focused on the preceding decade when refugees and asylum seekers were high on the media agenda, following a sharp rise in asylum applications from the start of 2000. The Council drew the Inquiry's attention to alarmist language such as "immigrants flooding in" that started to be used in the context of the closure of Sangatte refugee camp in Calais. Negative attitudes had persisted. The Council's evidence noted that publication of PCC guidelines had improved the situation. The charity undertakes research and policy work but noted that sections of the press did not use the service.
