Germany follows Switzerland and Denmark to seize cash and valuables from arriving refugees- Day media

Officials said the move enforced federal laws requiring asylum seekers to exhaust their own resources before receiving state welfare

Migrants arrive at a temporary camp after German officials sent them back to Austria in Schaerding Am Inn, Austria, 12 January 2016. EPA

German authorities have started confiscating jewellery, valuables and cash from refugees entering the country to make them fund their stay.

Officials in Bavaria and other southern states seeing high numbers of asylum seekers arriving from Austria are following Denmark and Switzerland to implement the controversial practice.

Joachim Herrmann, the Bavarian interior minister, said anything worth more than €750 (£570) can legally be seized in his state.

Refugees walk to a special train to Duesseldorf at the train station in Passau, Germany, 16 January 2016

“The practice in Bavaria and the federal rules set out in law correspond in substance with the process in Switzerland,” he added.

In neighbouring Baden-Württemberg, asylum seekers can only keep money and valuables worth €350 (£265).