The UK Home Office has published an etiquette brochure aimed at individuals claiming asylum in the UK.

The document, called Understanding Behaviour and Expectation in the UK: A Guide for Asylum Seekers, essentially aims to teach those claiming asylum about the finer aspects of British culture, such as how not to rape anyone, and that women are allowed outside by themselves.

While this writer couldn’t help but inject a bit of sarcasm in the former paragraph, the following information is taken straight from the guide itself and contains no embellishments from me.

The guide is divided into the following sections: 1. Living in the UK, 2. Gender equality, 3. Domestic abuse, 4. Sex and consent, 5. Respect in public, and 6. Getting help.

Gender equality

The section on gender equality advises the applicant that, “In the UK, men and women have equal rights. This is an important part of UK culture and is protected by law.”

It then informs that, “Women can: work and earn their own money, study and go to school or university,

travel freely, choose who they marry, or choose not to marry”, and “make their own decisions about their lives.”

“Women do not need permission from a husband, father, brother or any other man to do any of these things”, it says, adding, “Men and women are treated equally by the law, by employers, by schools and by services like hospitals and the police. It is against the law to treat someone unfairly because of their gender.”

“Treating someone unfairly because of their gender can have serious consequences. If your behaviour is controlling or threatening, it may also be treated as domestic abuse, which is a crime. You could get into trouble with the police, lose your accommodation and support, and it could affect your asylum claim. There is more information about domestic abuse in the next section.”

Domestic abuse

The advice on domestic abuse says that this occurs “when someone hurts, threatens, or controls their partner or family member.”

This, it says, “can happen to anyone, regardless of their gender, age, or background.”

“Domestic abuse includes: physical violence – hitting, pushing, kicking, or any physical harm,

threats – saying you will hurt someone or making them afraid, controlling behaviour – controlling someone’s money, where they go, or who they can see, emotional abuse – criticism, humiliation, or making someone feel worthless,” and “taking away documents – keeping someone’s passport or identity documents from them.”

Asylum seekers are advised that, “Domestic abuse is a serious crime in the UK. If you do any of the behaviours in the list, you could be arrested and go to prison, lose your accommodation and support, and it could affect your asylum claim.”

Sex and consent

The Home Office advises that, “Consent means both people freely agree to sex or sexual contact.

In the UK, the law is clear and strict: both people must agree to sex or sexual contact of any kind. This means: both people must say yes freely, without threat or pressure; someone can change their mind at any time, even if they said yes before; if someone is asleep, drunk, or unable to respond, they cannot consent”

It goes on to say that, “Consent is needed in every situation. This means even if you are married or

in a relationship with someone, they must consent to sex every time.”

“If you have sex with someone without their consent, this is called rape. Rape is a serious crime in the UK. You could go to prison, lose your support and accommodation, and it will affect your asylum claim.”

The legal age of consent

“The legal age of consent in the UK is 16. This means that anyone under the age of 16 is considered a child and cannot legally agree to have sex,” the guide says.

“Sex with someone under the age of 16 is a serious crime in the UK. There are no exceptions to this rule,” it says, continuing, “Even if they say yes, it is still illegal.”

“You could go to prison, lose your support and accommodation, and it will affect your asylum claim.”

The section on “Respect in public” advises the reader that, “In the UK, people have different beliefs, religions, cultures, relationships and ways of life. You must treat others with respect, even if you disagree with their beliefs or how they live.”

In the section on “Taking photographs and videos”, readers are advised that, “It is a serious crime to: take sexual images of someone without their consent, share sexual images of someone without their consent.”

“If you do any of these things, you could be arrested and go to prison, lose your accommodation and support, and it could affect your asylum claim.”