The British government has published a nine-page guide for asylum seekers, explaining among other things that rape is a crime, that women do not need a man’s permission to work or travel, and that whistling or making “kissing noises” at people on the street is unacceptable. The brochure has quickly become a political battleground.

On August 19, the British Home Office released the new brochure Understanding behaviours and expectations in the UK: A guide for asylum seekers. The document is specifically designed for people seeking asylum in the UK and aims to explain the country’s laws and social norms.

The guide covers topics such as gender equality, domestic violence, sex and consent, and how one is expected to behave in public. The government also notes that these rules apply not only to asylum seekers but to everyone living in the UK.

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An entire section is devoted to gender equality. It explains that men and women have equal rights, and that women can work and earn money, study, travel freely, choose whom to marry – or not marry at all – and make their own life decisions.

It is also made explicit that women do not need permission from a husband, father, brother, or any other man to do these things. Asylum seekers are urged not to stop a woman from working or studying, not to control what she wears or where she goes, nor to make decisions for her without her consent.

The guide also describes controlling behavior, threats, physical violence, and financial control as forms of domestic abuse. According to the document, such behavior can lead to police intervention, loss of housing and support, and impact an asylum application.

Explains What Rape Is

The most notable section addresses sex and consent. It explains that both parties must consent to sexual activity and that the consent must be given freely. A person who is asleep, intoxicated, or unable to respond cannot give consent.

The guide also notes that sex without consent is rape, and that the crime can lead to imprisonment, loss of asylum support and accommodation, as well as affect one’s ability to remain in the country. The legal age of sexual consent is stated as 16 years old.

Even married or partnered individuals, according to the British information, must consent to sex every time.

“Kissing Noises” Banned

The guide also covers much more everyday behaviors. Asylum seekers are advised not to make sexual comments to people, even if intended as a compliment. They are also told not to whistle or make “kissing noises” at others, not to follow people or block their path.

Insults and offensive gestures are also mentioned, as well as verbal attacks based on someone’s gender, religion, or appearance.

The Home Office has also produced posters with similar messages as part of the informational campaign.

Political Criticism: “They Should Be Deported”

The brochure has received strong criticism from the Conservative opposition and from Reform UK. The Conservative Party’s shadow home secretary, Chris Philp, questions why the government is trying to teach newcomers how to behave instead of removing those who commit crimes. He says that reports of illegal migrants raping or attacking women and girls are almost daily, and argues the government should instead deport them.

Reform UK’s spokesperson for home affairs, Zia Yusuf, has also attacked the move. In a post on X, he called the government’s guidance a “disgrace” and claimed it demonstrates that the government itself regards asylum seekers as a societal problem.

Meanwhile, even a Labour politician has suggested the requirements should go further. Mike Tapp, who until last month worked at the Home Office, has argued that asylum seekers could be tested on their knowledge of British law, including regarding rape, domestic violence, and gender equality.

Labour Defends the Initiative

The government, on the other hand, has mounted a clear defense of the information campaign. Education Secretary Lucy Powell described it as reasonable and important to make British law and social norms clear to people arriving from other countries.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has also defended the government’s position. The government’s message is that ignorance of British law cannot be used as an excuse for crime.

The Home Office also emphasizes that the rules apply to everyone in the country. A spokesperson says that everyone coming to the UK is expected to follow the country’s laws, and that those who do not may face consequences, including their asylum application being denied and removal from the UK.

Over 100,000 Asylum Applications in One Year

The guide comes at a time when migration remains one of the UK’s most politically charged issues. Reportedly, around 101,000 asylum applications were submitted in the year to December 2025. During the same period, around 46,000 people were registered as having entered the UK via illegal routes, including via small boats across the English Channel.

The government has therefore tried to combine tougher rhetoric on illegal migration with measures to reduce the number of people living in expensive asylum accommodation. The new brochure is part of this effort, but has also opened another political debate: how much of British law and basic societal norms actually need to be explained to adults seeking asylum in the country?

For the government, the answer is that it must be crystal clear. For the opposition, the question is rather why people who need to be instructed that rape, sexual assault, and violence against women are illegal should be allowed to remain in the UK at all.

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