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Thousands wrongly cleared to work Thousands wrongly cleared to work
(20 minutes later)
More than 6,600 illegal immigrants have been cleared to seek jobs in the UK, the home secretary has admitted. More than 6,600 illegal immigrants have been cleared to seek security jobs in the UK, the home secretary has said.
And almost 4,500 others were given permits to apply for work when it was unclear whether they had permission to be employed, Jacqui Smith confirmed. The figure had been thought to be about 5,000 - but it has been revised following further checks by officials.
More than 4,400 others were given permits to apply for work when it was unclear whether they had permission to be employed, Jacqui Smith added.
She insisted a "significant proportion" of this second group may yet prove they were legally able to seek work.She insisted a "significant proportion" of this second group may yet prove they were legally able to seek work.
But she has been criticised for failing to disclose details of the problem when she learnt about it in July. In a Commons statement, Ms Smith said the Border and Immigration Agency believed 6,653 people with Security Industry Authority (SIA) licences did not have the right to work in the UK. There was a question mark over a further 4,447.
Licences revoked
She told MPs that licences given to many employers were now being revoked.
Ms Smith said: "Visits to specific individuals and employers have already begun and swift action has been taken in those cases which merit it.
Last month we were told that there were 5,000 illegal foreign workers in the security industry. Then it was 10,000. Now it's up to 11,000 David Davis, Conservatives
"A series of targeted enforcement operations will take place in the coming months with a view to prosecuting employers and removing or prosecuting individuals in the worst cases."
Last month, Ms Smith announced that about 5,000 illegal immigrants had been working as security guards - but the figure has been revised upwards after checks on the 39,885 non-European Economic Area nationals licensed by the SIA before July 2 this year.
The SIA was set up to vet applicants, particularly for any past criminal activity, and allows those who are successful to work on pub and club doors as well as in sensitive security posts.
For Conservatives, shadow home secretary David Davis said: "Last month we were told that there were 5,000 illegal foreign workers in the security industry. Then it was 10,000. Now it's up to 11,000."
He demanded to know how the system had "gone so badly wrong" and said there had been a "huge policy failure" in the Home Office.
Mr Davis asked how many had had their licences revoked already and how many had sincebeen removed from their security posts and deported.
In April 2007 an enforcement operation discovered 44 people working at a security company who did not have the right to work in the UK - 12 had been subcontracted to a company that provided staff to guard locations under Metropolitan Police contracts.
Others were employed at ports and airports. One man had been guarding government cars - including that of the prime minister.
More intensive checks on security applicants began in July, since when hundreds of licences have been refused.
Ms Smith has been criticised for failing to disclose details of the problem when she learned about it in July.