UK caught in ‘ no fingerprinting’ row
Britain’s Tory- led government on Thursday was caught in a controversy over a report into border controls between France and the UK by the immigration watchdog.
The report by chief inspector of borders and immigration John Vine, which has been heavily redacted by the home office, has also criticised the fact that thousands of illegal immigrants attempting to sneak into the UK through France have not been fingerprinted by border officials for many years now.
No fingerprints or photographs have been taken of illegal immigrants caught at Calais since January 2010. The UK also does not make checks at Coquelles, the site of the entrance to the Channel Tunnel.
“I also find it surprising that people found attempting to enter the UK concealed in freight vehicles are no longer fingerprinted by Border Force at Calais or Coquelles. Gathering biometric information such as fingerprints could assist the decision- making process if these individuals were ultimately successful in reaching the UK and went on to claim asylum,” he said.
However, home secre- tary Theresa May faced severe criticism for using legal powers to keep parts of the report secret. Fifteen sections of the report were redacted by the home office for national security reasons.
Labour party described the heavily redacted report as a cover- up by the Tory- LibDem government. “Yet again the government refuses to be straight with the British people about immigration and our borders. This cover- up and the failure at our borders provide yet more dents in this government’s much- tarnished credibility. What possible reason can there be for redacting elements of a report by a highlyrespected independent inspector? If Theresa May thinks Mr Vine’s report would imperil national security or provide ammunition for illegal migrants, she should share the full report with the home affairs select committee and ourselves and explain why the full report cannot be published without masses of redactions. This is a cover- up to hide her own failings,” Labour shadow immigration minister Chris Bryant said.
“I am concerned that the home secretary has decided to redact part of the findings related to the ‘ Lille Loophole’, despite John Vine finding that some were still able to reach United Kingdom using this method. The committee has been assured in the past that the loophole would be closed. The withholding of information prevents us from properly holding the Border Force to account,” Keith Vaz, chair of the home affairs select committee, said.
“Transparency has to be the best policy, if only to show that the Home Office has nothing to hide,” Migration Watch, a group that campaigns for more controls on immigration, said in a statement.