Recommendations To obtain a more complete understanding of the number and profile of persons who may be stateless in the UK, the Home Office should undertake an analysis of the 2011 Census data. This analysis should be compared with the analysis of other data sources contained in this study to try to build the best achievable overall picture. The statistical recording and reporting of stateless persons as defined by Article 1(1) of the 1954 Convention should be made available as a disaggregated group in published Home Office immigration statistics. Recent progress in this area should be consolidated with further changes necessary to ensure that this group is not conflated with refugees, and that both groups are distinct in published statistics. The UK Border Agency should consolidate its numerous categories relating to stateless persons and those of unknown or unspecified nationality into distinct groupings to facilitate more accurate recording and identification. In particular, the Border Agency should have a consistent approach as to whether statelessness should be identified as a specific “nationality” category on casework databases, such as the Case Information Database (CID). To ensure a more accurate registration and recording of stateless persons the UK Border Agency could develop its IT systems. For example: When “stateless” or “unknown nationality” is selected on the CID dropdown menu, a country of birth or origin option should also be available for caseowners/screening officers to fill in; and, When an individual knows their country of origin but indicates uncertainty about their nationality but does not declare themselves to be stateless, this uncertainty should be recorded in a systematic and easily accessible way to allow statistical analysis. It should not be noted in the CID notes field as this means the issue becomes hidden. This should also be the case where an individual asserts themselves to be stateless but this is not accepted by the UK Border Agency, or there is not yet sufficient information to confirm this. New UK Border Agency guidance relating to the recording of statelessness on CID and other IT systems should be developed to ensure that officials use a consistent approach and to avoid the risk of incorrect attribution of nationality or the failure to record when an individual is stateless. This guidance should take into account UNHCR’s forthcoming Guidelines on the definition of “stateless person” in international law to ensure that the UK’s obligations under the 1954 and 1961 Conventions are met for all those who are stateless. 60 Mapping statelessness