Response to an inspection of the Home Office’s country of origin information
Updated 17 June 2020
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/response-to-an-inspection-of-the-home-offices-country-of-origin-information/5efc8f57-fd50-4a34-86d2-f0c78c930b7c
The Home Office thanks the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) for this report, as well as the Independent Advisory Group on Country Information (IAGCI) and the individual reviewers for the positive overall nature of the reviews, the complimentary remarks about the quality standards of the team and their products and the constructive comments and feedback to enable further improvement.
The Home Office response to the recommendations
- Review its use of multiple sources and ensure that where COI (Country of Origin Information) is referring to matters of fact rather than views or opinions it either indicates which is correct or provides sufficient details of the sources (motivation, purpose, knowledge, experience, how and when the information was obtained) to enable the reader to make an informed judgement.
1.1 Accepted.
1.2 The Home Office accepts the recommendation. When gathering COI we use a wide range of reliable sources covering both factual information and different views and opinions, to ensure accurate information is provided. We generally do not include information we know to be incorrect unless, for example, it is part of a quote where the additional facts are otherwise correct, and, in such circumstances, we would indicate which piece of information we did not accept. Where a ‘fact’ is disputed or cannot be verified by different sources, we provide information concerning the motivation, purpose, knowledge and experience of the source alongside how and when the information was obtained, so that the reader can assess how much weight can be placed upon that information.
Summary
Recommendation
Review its use of multiple sources and ensure that where COI (Country of Origin Information) is referring to matters of fact rather than views or opinions it either indicates which is correct or provides sufficient details of the sources (motivation, purpose, knowledge, experience, how and when the information was obtained) to enable the reader to make an informed judgement.
Home Office response
Accepted.