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Security staff employed illegally Security staff employed illegally
(about 12 hours later)
The Home Office has admitted illegal immigrants have been mistakenly cleared for jobs as security staff.The Home Office has admitted illegal immigrants have been mistakenly cleared for jobs as security staff.
Ministers have ordered new checks to be carried out on hundreds of thousands of people vetted by the Security Industry Authority over the past three years.Ministers have ordered new checks to be carried out on hundreds of thousands of people vetted by the Security Industry Authority over the past three years.
The Home Office says the SIA did not check applicants were entitled to work in the UK before granting licences.The Home Office says the SIA did not check applicants were entitled to work in the UK before granting licences.
The Tories said the system was "not fit for purpose" but the government said the new checks had "strengthened" it.
According to the Sunday Mirror, illegal immigrants are working at airports, ports and the Metropolitan Police.According to the Sunday Mirror, illegal immigrants are working at airports, ports and the Metropolitan Police.
The newspaper claimed 5,000 illegal immigrants were estimated to have been employed in posts such as security guards and bouncers.The newspaper claimed 5,000 illegal immigrants were estimated to have been employed in posts such as security guards and bouncers.
Removal from UKRemoval from UK
The Home Office said the SIA, which it set up to regulate the security industry, took immediate action as soon as they became aware some licence-holders had been employed illegally.The Home Office said the SIA, which it set up to regulate the security industry, took immediate action as soon as they became aware some licence-holders had been employed illegally.
"From July this year, all new applicants have been granted a licence only if they are entitled to seek work in the UK," a department spokesman said."From July this year, all new applicants have been granted a licence only if they are entitled to seek work in the UK," a department spokesman said.
Public confidence in the government's handling of immigration will take yet another hammering Nick Clegg, Lib Dems
He added that checks on all existing licence-holders will be completed shortly and anyone found to be working illegally would have their licence taken away and would face removal from the UK.He added that checks on all existing licence-holders will be completed shortly and anyone found to be working illegally would have their licence taken away and would face removal from the UK.
The spokesman stressed employers were legally responsible for ensuring their staff were entitled to work in Britain.The spokesman stressed employers were legally responsible for ensuring their staff were entitled to work in Britain.
He added that ID cards were being introduced for foreign nationals in 2008 which would "strengthen the fight" against illegal immigration.He added that ID cards were being introduced for foreign nationals in 2008 which would "strengthen the fight" against illegal immigration.
Shadow immigration minister Damian Green said: "What is extraordinary about this latest Home Office fiasco is that we have been through this before.
"Last year the Home office discovered it was employing illegal immigrants as cleaners in the immigration department itself.
"From these new revelations it looks like no effective action was taken to check who has access to some of the most sensitive buildings in this country.
"It looks like the Home Office is still not fit for purpose."
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said: "Public confidence in the government's handling of immigration will take yet another hammering with this revelation.
"It is impossible to promote the merits of a fair and effective immigration system as long as the government mixes headline-grabbing populism with serial administrative incompetence."
The SIA has cleared 250,000 applicants since it first started issuing licences in 2004.The SIA has cleared 250,000 applicants since it first started issuing licences in 2004.