The UK has passed the half way mark in its commitment to resettle 20,000 refugees by 2020.

The latest quarterly Home Office immigration statistics show that 10,538 refugees have been resettled through the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS).

In 2017, a total of 6,212 people were resettled in the UK with 4,832 of these people coming through the VPRS.

Published today, the new immigration statistics also show 539 people arrived under the Vulnerable Children’s Resettlement Scheme (VCRS).

This scheme will resettle up to 3,000 at-risk children and their families from the Middle East and North Africa region by 2020.

‘As a country we can be proud that we are over half way towards honouring our commitment of resettling 20,000 of the most vulnerable refugees who have fled Syria by 2020 so they can rebuild their lives here in safety,’ said the Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

‘Nearly half are children and more people are arriving every month.’

‘We are welcoming and supporting some of the most vulnerable refugees and I am grateful to all of the local authorities, charities and other organisations that have made it possible,’ she added.