Changes to asylum laws introduced by the government today 'stand in tension' with international law, the Law Society has said. It was responding to the home secretary's announcement that, from today, adults granted asylum will receive a 30-month period of protection, rather than the previous norm of five years followed by near-automatic permanent settlement. 

Under the changes, individuals' refugee status will be reviewed every 30 months and those whose countries are now deemed safe will be expected to return home, the government said. 

Commenting on the changes, Law Society president Mark Evans said: 'UK government asylum reforms must uphold the rule of law, including international law commitments, and access to justice. We all benefit from being treated fairly. But the rules announced today will create prolonged uncertainty for people who want to live free from danger and have been recognised by the government as needing protection.

'The changes stand in tension with Article 34 of the Refugee Convention, under which the UK has agreed to facilitate as far as possible the assimilation and naturalisation of refugees.'

Evans also pointed out that, last November, the government said access to early legal advice would be a core part of the asylum reforms. 'We await further details of these measures,' he said. 

Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, said: 'This country will always provide sanctuary to those fleeing war and persecution. But we must also ensure our asylum system is not creating pull factors that draw people on dangerous journeys across the world, fuelling and funding the human traffickers.'