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Blair supports Reid over records Blair supports Reid over records
(about 8 hours later)
Tony Blair has backed John Reid over the 27,000 backlog of files on crimes committed by Britons abroad.Tony Blair has backed John Reid over the 27,000 backlog of files on crimes committed by Britons abroad.
The prime minister said that being home secretary was the toughest job in government, but insisted that Mr Reid was making a difference.The prime minister said that being home secretary was the toughest job in government, but insisted that Mr Reid was making a difference.
And he said officials were doing their "level best" to cope with difficult issues in "challenging circumstances".And he said officials were doing their "level best" to cope with difficult issues in "challenging circumstances".
A 2004 report into problems with files on British crimes abroad only pointed out "what we already know", he said. Mr Reid said on Tuesday five offenders convicted overseas were still working in the UK after passing a vetting test.
John Reid took over as home secretary in May 2006, after Charles Clarke was sacked in a row over foreign criminals released from prison without being considered for deportation. Nine jobs
He added that nine more whose crimes had not been entered on to the Police National Computer after a Home Office mistake had been cleared by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), bringing the total number to 14.
None of the criminals had violent or sexual convictions.
Mr Reid said that, in all, nine offenders had taken up vetted jobs during the confusion.
Five of those are still in those jobs and four have since left them, he said.
Mr Reid took over as home secretary in May 2006, after Charles Clarke was sacked in a row over foreign criminals released from prison without being considered for deportation.
'Not fit for purpose''Not fit for purpose'
Mr Reid pledged to "sort out" the Home Office after saying that parts of it were "not fit for purpose".Mr Reid pledged to "sort out" the Home Office after saying that parts of it were "not fit for purpose".
Last week it emerged that more than 27,000 case files on Britons who had committed crimes abroad, including rape and murder, had not been entered on the police computer.Last week it emerged that more than 27,000 case files on Britons who had committed crimes abroad, including rape and murder, had not been entered on the police computer.
That national database is checked when people apply to work with vulnerable groups, such as children.That national database is checked when people apply to work with vulnerable groups, such as children.
The home secretary is the toughest job in government, even including mine Tony BlairThe home secretary is the toughest job in government, even including mine Tony Blair
Mr Reid has denied knowing about the backlog.Mr Reid has denied knowing about the backlog.
But Mr Blair was asked about a National Audit Office report in 2004, signed off by the then home secretary, which raised problems with the system for reporting crimes committed abroad - by British people or other EU nationals who might apply for work in the UK.But Mr Blair was asked about a National Audit Office report in 2004, signed off by the then home secretary, which raised problems with the system for reporting crimes committed abroad - by British people or other EU nationals who might apply for work in the UK.
He said the report confirmed what was already known, that there was not an effective European system in place in 2004 for reporting crimes.He said the report confirmed what was already known, that there was not an effective European system in place in 2004 for reporting crimes.
Britain had now signed up to a better system, but had to work through the backlog which had built up. "That is what we're doing," he said.Britain had now signed up to a better system, but had to work through the backlog which had built up. "That is what we're doing," he said.
Asked whether the Home Office was now "fit for purpose", Mr Blair said: "I think the changes that John is introducing are the changes that will improve hugely the quality of what the Home Office does."Asked whether the Home Office was now "fit for purpose", Mr Blair said: "I think the changes that John is introducing are the changes that will improve hugely the quality of what the Home Office does."
"This will be a continuous improvement ... The home secretary is the toughest job in government, even including mine, because you are dealing with a client group that isn't trying to help you, it's trying to obstruct you - so it's always tough.""This will be a continuous improvement ... The home secretary is the toughest job in government, even including mine, because you are dealing with a client group that isn't trying to help you, it's trying to obstruct you - so it's always tough."
But he said crime had fallen over the past ten years, anti-social behaviour measures were making a real difference and asylum numbers were below what they had inherited from the Conservatives. But he said crime had fallen over the past 10 years, anti-social behaviour measures were making a real difference and asylum numbers were below what they had inherited from the Conservatives.
He said the Home Office was "dealing with a range of incredibly difficult issues in very challenging circumstances" and said the vast majority of people were doing their "level best".He said the Home Office was "dealing with a range of incredibly difficult issues in very challenging circumstances" and said the vast majority of people were doing their "level best".