A Powys refugee group has criticised the UK Government’s proposals to send asylum seekers and refugees to Rwanda.

The five-year trial - which will cost an initial £120m - would see some asylum seekers sent to the central African country.

The scheme, which was announced last week, is intended to curb migrant crossings of the Channel. It will involve people who are deemed to have entered Britain by unlawful means since January 1 being sent to Rwanda where they will be permitted to apply for asylum.

The proposals have faced widespread criticism, with over 160 UK charities calling the scheme “cruel”, and the head of the Church of England describing it as “the opposite of the nature of God”. Former PM and home secretary Theresa May said last week she did not support the policy due to her concerns over whether it met standards on “legality, practicality and efficacy”.

Knighton and District Refugee Support Group (KDRSG) are the latest group to lend their voice in opposition to the scheme.

In a statement, the group said: “As a group with over 60 members from all walks of life who recognise the need for support for all refugees, we deplore the government’s latest proposals to deport refugees and asylum seekers to Rwanda.

“We see it as a UK Government plan to send thousands of frightened, exploited disenfranchised people to central Africa - in effect a government sponsored secondary displacement - at our expense.”

The group said that there would be no boats in the Channel if safe routes were provided for those fleeing war and conflict, before urging constituents to write to their MP to put an end to the “hostile move”.

The statement continued: “The Prime Minister, the Home Secretary and others repeatedly refer to ‘illegal’ migrants when they are not - claiming asylum is perfectly legal and part of the internationally agreed systems for assisting those fleeing persecution and conflict.

“We regard any political commentary that suggests this is a good way to break the business model of the traffickers as disingenuous.”

According to KDRSG, the ‘imprecision and shoddy nature’ of the plans is for all to see in the differing reports on what the asylum scheme entails. They say there is insufficient, if any detail as to what would happen to unsuccessful deportees whose applications are rejected.

Some media outlets are reporting that those sent to Rwanda will be offered asylum there with their claims being processed within three months, with it being further suggested that those who are successful will allegedly be able to stay for at least five years with a training and support package. Other media reports imply that the UK Government will pay Rwanda to hold them indefinitely while their applications for asylum are processed.

“We say that global displacement of people is a global issue which should be addressed by a humane and considered global response and not used for political stunts in which those fleeing war and persecution become the victims,” the KDRSG statement continued.

“We are in the midst of a European refugee crisis which, yet again, reveals the lack of humanitarian values held by our government.  People fleeing war are kept in limbo, trying to work through an arcane visa and sponsorship process frustrating the plans to bring them to safety that so many British people are trying to secure.

“There must be a better, responsive, more humane way for the UK to take responsibility for our relationships with people from around the world whether they have present and historic bonds with us or not.”