1,000s of Illegal Immigrants Cleared for UK Security Work
Confirmation has been provided by the Home Office that a number of illegal immigrants have gained employment in security-related positions. As a consequence, ministers have now demanded that re-checks be undertaken on those mistakenly cleared to work by the Security Industry Authority since 2004.
According to the Home Office, the SIA failed to properly assess the eligibility of those in question to work in this country prior to authorising the necessary paperwork.
The Sunday Mirror claimed that illegal immigrants are employed in positions within Britain's airport and port networks, as well as with the London Metropolitan Police. The publication added that approximately 5,000 had worked as bouncers, security guards, and other positions of trust.
Security Authority Cracking Down on UK's Illegal Workers
The Home Office described how the SIA - the regulatory body it founded to monitor the security sector - acted immediately when it became known that a percentage of employees were working illegally. Elaborating on this, a spokesman from the department stated: "From July this year, all new applicants have been granted a licence only if they are entitled to seek work in the UK."
The spokesman added that all current licence-holders were also being checked - a process he expected to end shortly. Anyone discovered to be working outside the terms of the law would be stripped of their licence and, ultimately, be ejected from the UK.
Employers Responsible for Checking Immigrants' UK Work Eligibility
The spokesman further emphasised how the legal responsibility for making sure staff were entitled to UK employability rested with the employer.
One measure, said the spokesman, that would act to "strengthen the fight" against the tide of illegal immigrants would be the introduction of ID cards next year.
In the past three years, 250,000 applicants have been cleared to work in the UK by the SIA.
Source - Security International's Current Affairs Correspondent
Further Resources:
