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Row over asylum no-arrests claim Calls to explain aslyum 'map'
(30 minutes later)
A senior Tory has claimed the Home Office told police in north Wales not to hold illegal asylum seekers but to tell them to go an immigration office. The Home Secretary is being asked to explain why five illegal immigrants found in north Wales were told to find their own way to a centre in Liverpool.
Shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan told the House of Commons officials had even provided a "helpful map" pointing to a screening centre in Liverpool. Shadow Welsh Secretary, who raised the issue in the Commons, said it raised serious questions over security.
It is understood police arrested five men in a van earlier this year. North Wales Police chief constable Richard Brunstrom has written to John Reid about the incident.
The Home Office said there were "rare occasions" when staff might not be able to attend after police made arrests.The Home Office said there were "rare occasions" when staff might not be able to attend after police made arrests.
It is understood that five men were found in the back of the van in north Wales, which had been stopped by police. Ms Gillan, the MP for Chesham and Amersham, said Home Office officials had even provided a "helpful map" for police to pass on to the men, who had been found in the back of a van which had been stopped.
One of them was carrying a document that confirmed he had been refused permission to enter the UK days earlier. The map gave directions to an asylum screening centre in Liverpool.
Isn't this just another farce being played out by the Home Office but..threatening safety and security of people in Wales Shadow Welsh Secretary, Cheryl GillanIsn't this just another farce being played out by the Home Office but..threatening safety and security of people in Wales Shadow Welsh Secretary, Cheryl Gillan
The police arrested the men, said to come from Iraq and Iran, and took them to a police station. It has emerged that one of the men, said to come from Iraq and Iran, was carrying a document that confirmed he had been refused permission to enter the UK days earlier.
Officers contacted the Home Office's Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) and were told to direct them to the asylum screening centre at Liverpool. Ms Gillan raised the case in the Commons on Wednesday.
The case was raised in the Commons on Wednesday by Ms Gillan, the MP for Chesham and Amersham. She said: "Isn't this just another farce being played out by the Home Office but one that this time is threatening safety and security of people in Wales?"
She said the Home Office officials had quoted the immigration and nationality directorate's operational enforcement manual.
The manual says: "Where an enforcement office is unable to offer assistance to the police in interviewing, for example, a group of clandestine illegal entrants... the police should be advised to direct them to the nearest Asylum Screening Unit."
Ms Gillan said: "Isn't this just another farce being played out by the Home Office but one that this time is threatening safety and security of people in Wales?"
'Best effect'
"I am absolutely staggered that this appears to be standing government advice on the treatment of illegal immigrants."I am absolutely staggered that this appears to be standing government advice on the treatment of illegal immigrants.
"Police officers are effectively forced to release anyone they take into custody and give them directions to the nearest Asylum Screening Unit."Police officers are effectively forced to release anyone they take into custody and give them directions to the nearest Asylum Screening Unit.
'Joint working'
"They are being told to offer the sort of travel advice you'd give to members of the public looking for the nearest railway station or local business rather than given support to deal with people who've entered this country illegally.""They are being told to offer the sort of travel advice you'd give to members of the public looking for the nearest railway station or local business rather than given support to deal with people who've entered this country illegally."
North Wales Police said chief constable Richard Brunstom has written to Home Secretary John Reid about the issue. North Wales Police said chief constable Richard Brunstom had written to Home Secretary John Reid about the issue and was awaiting a reply.
A force spokeswoman said: "I can confirm that the chief constable wrote a personal letter to the home secretary about illegal immigration in north Wales some weeks ago. He is still waiting for an answer." The Home Office said in a statement: "The Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) and police already work closely and effectively and the minister for immigration has announced how he wishes to increase this level of joint working between police and the IND, especially to tackle the hard end of immigration crime.
'Clandestine' "The Home Secretary has also made it clear that he is determined to ensure that the police and the Home Office worked in a joined up and effective manner."
The Home Office said in a statement: "On the rare occasion when the IND are unable to attend, the police will record the details of the individuals concerned and pass them directly to the IND.
"Such occasions might include circumstances where immigration staff are engaged on an operation to target illegal working or removing failed asylum seekers.
"The issue here is about focusing resources to the best effect.
"We have already introduced a number of measures to make our borders more secure, however, there will inevitably be some occasions when clandestine entrants manage to penetrate our borders unlawfully."