Home Office powerless on immigration

The Home Office has admitted that it is 'powerless' to measure the levels of immigration in the UK despite having had a state of the art border security system in place.

As the government's flagship eBorders project is expected to cost the taxpayer £1.2million, it is expected to provide 'insufficient data' on migrant levels according to a report in the Telegraph.

Home Office Ministers have revealed that the costly border system cannot be used to measure levels of immigration as border guards are prevented from asking passengers how long they intend to stay in Britain for.

It has become impossible to monitor net migration due to European rules which ban immigration officials from questioning EU residents about their travel plans.

As the opposition accused the government of 'abject failure' when they put the eBorders IT system in place, Home Office Ministers are concerned that they could face legal challenges if immigration officials ask passengers too many questions at the border.

Following a critical report by the Commons all-party public administration select committee, the Home Office admitted that "This data is by itself insufficient to provide a direct measurement of migration flows".

Committee Chairman, Bernard Jenkins added, "The government is backing off from its own proposal and trying to reduce the expectations of what eBorders will be able to achieve".

Voicing his concerns about the freedom of movement principle undermining the authority of officials, he believes we should be able to ask any questions of anyone who comes in to this country.

Despite the fact that the eBorders project has already cost the taxpayer hundreds of millions of pounds, Sir Charles Montgomery, Head of the Border Force announced earlier this year that the project would be terminated in its current form.

If you need advice and support about an immigration case, please call our solicitors on 0161 492 0300 and we will get back to you ASAP.

Crumpsall Solicitors

Manchester