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Commons clash over foreign crimes Commons clash over foreign crimes
(30 minutes later)
Tory leader David Cameron and Tony Blair have clashed in the Commons over reports the Home Office ignored files on serious offences by Britons abroad.Tory leader David Cameron and Tony Blair have clashed in the Commons over reports the Home Office ignored files on serious offences by Britons abroad.
Mr Cameron said if any of the criminals had worked with children the home secretary could not "run away". Mr Cameron said if any of the criminals had worked with children Home Secretary John Reid could not "run away".
Police chiefs have said UK criminals may have been cleared to work with vulnerable people in the UK. Mr Reid said details of only 260 of 540 serious criminals had been entered on the Police National Computer (PNC) because of incomplete information.
Police say some may have been cleared to work with the vulnerable in the UK.
In a statement to the Commons, Mr Reid said an inquiry into the Home Office's handling of the details was expected to be competed within six weeks.
The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) would be checking if any disclosures to employers about the most serious offenders needed to be examined again, he added.
He said he expected to be told conclusions "in a matter of days".
Earlier, Home Office minister Joan Ryan said details of the offences were still being registered by police.Earlier, Home Office minister Joan Ryan said details of the offences were still being registered by police.
She also told BBC News "some answers" were expected on Wednesday as to whether dangerous offenders were working with children.She also told BBC News "some answers" were expected on Wednesday as to whether dangerous offenders were working with children.
Meanwhile, the home secretary is due to announce an inquiry by a senior civil servant from outside the Home Office in a Commons statement.
Some 525 serious offenders may have applied for jobs back in the UK, it is reported.
On Tuesday the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said details of 27,529 cases, including 25 Britons convicted of rape, were left in files at the Home Office.On Tuesday the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said details of 27,529 cases, including 25 Britons convicted of rape, were left in files at the Home Office.
The association said they should have been entered on the PNC.The association said they should have been entered on the PNC.
After coming under fire from Mr Cameron, Mr Blair told MPs that, where there was sufficient detail, all the most serious offenders had now been put on the Police National Computer (PNC).
'Working through''Working through'
Ms Ryan said police chiefs were "working through" details of the most serious cases.Ms Ryan said police chiefs were "working through" details of the most serious cases.
"Acpo [the Association of Chief Police Officers] are saying they are registering the details of the most serious criminals of the 500 most serious cases," she said. The home secretary and the current ministers were not told about this issue of the backlog Joan Ryan,Home Office minister href="/1/hi/uk/6247715.stm" class="">Q&A: Foreign crimes vetting href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5211&edition=1" class="">Send us your comments
The home secretary and the current ministers were not told about this issue of the backlog Joan Ryan,Home Office minister Send us your comments
She also stressed that the current Home Office ministers were not told files sent from overseas were not registered.She also stressed that the current Home Office ministers were not told files sent from overseas were not registered.
Ms Ryan's comments come after the Home Office had previously said a full inquiry had begun.
Mr Reid said on Tuesday night: "This is a very serious problem and I take it very seriously indeed."Mr Reid said on Tuesday night: "This is a very serious problem and I take it very seriously indeed."
Mr Reid has been meeting with the police and the Criminal Records Bureau on Wednesday morning. Mr Reid has been meeting with the police and the CRB on Wednesday morning.
Speaking before the meeting he said its aim was to "establish the facts and satisfy myself that everything has been done to protect the public".Speaking before the meeting he said its aim was to "establish the facts and satisfy myself that everything has been done to protect the public".
'Totally unacceptable''Totally unacceptable'
Responsibility for updating the records was transferred from the Home Office to Acpo last year.Responsibility for updating the records was transferred from the Home Office to Acpo last year.
The cases involved included:The cases involved included:
  • 25 rapes
  • 3 attempted rapes
  • 29 paedophiles
  • 17 other sex offenders
  • 5 murders
  • 9 attempted murders
  • 13 manslaughter convictions
  • 29 robberies
  • 25 rapes
  • 3 attempted rapes
  • 29 paedophiles
  • 17 other sex offenders
  • 5 murders
  • 9 attempted murders
  • 13 manslaughter convictions
  • 29 robberies
    • Acpo spokesman Paul Kernaghan told the Commons all-party home affairs select committee that the position was "totally unacceptable" in terms of protecting the public.Acpo spokesman Paul Kernaghan told the Commons all-party home affairs select committee that the position was "totally unacceptable" in terms of protecting the public.
    Mr Kernaghan, who is Hampshire's chief constable, said: "Until the Acpo criminal records office was created, someone could go to Germany, commit a sexual offence and serve a sentence - and this would not be known to any police officer when they came back to the UK."Mr Kernaghan, who is Hampshire's chief constable, said: "Until the Acpo criminal records office was created, someone could go to Germany, commit a sexual offence and serve a sentence - and this would not be known to any police officer when they came back to the UK."
    He added: "The information was sitting in desk files and not entered on the PNC.He added: "The information was sitting in desk files and not entered on the PNC.
    "That is now being addressed and they are working their way through putting serious offenders on a risk-assessed basis on the PNC.""That is now being addressed and they are working their way through putting serious offenders on a risk-assessed basis on the PNC."