80% WANT TOUGHER ACTION ON ILLEGAL MIGRANTS

BRITAIN is probably home to more than one million illegal immigrants who may never be found, experts warned last night.

The number includes those who were smuggled into the UK or entered on false papers, those overstaying their visas and failed asylum seekers who disappear.

Eight in 10 people believe the Government should take stronger measures over illegal migration, according to a British Social Attitudes poll.

Alp Mehmet, of Migration Watch UK, said: “We have long pointed to the likelihood of something in excess of a million illegal immigrants here. We have no reason to change that view.

“Indeed, it is a figure that has been supported by a former head of the UK Border Agency as well as the former head of Home Office enforcement.”

Until 2005 the Government insisted no estimate was possible. But a year later a Home Office report estimated there were 430,000 in the UK. In 2009 the London School of Economics suggested it totalled 618,000. Last year one migrant was caught trying to sneak in every 10 minutes. Official data showed 56,132 attempts. It relates to the number intercepted by Border Force but no one knows how many made it here undetected.

The Home Office said: “It is harder than ever before for those with no right to be here to remain in the UK. Whether it is working, renting a property, opening a bank account or driving a car, we can now take tougher action on those who flout the law.”

ANEW report reveals that nearly 80 per cent of the British public wants tougher action to deal with illegal migration. This is an issue that has largely been glossed over by the Westminster elite but with voters furious at the porous state of our borders it is not something that can be ignored.

The UK Border Force is woefully under-equipped making it difficult to prevent people from coming here illegally. Meanwhile, the efforts to arrest and deport those who do sneak into Britain are simply not up to scratch.

Some of the blame for this of course lies with the European human rights laws that make it so hard for the authorities to deport people.

With the current strategies for tackling illegal migration proving hopelessly inept, it is no surprise that so many people want to see politicians and officials pull their socks up and start doing better.