This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30432832
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Citizenship checks missed criminal records, report finds | Citizenship checks missed criminal records, report finds |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The Home Office has granted British citizenship to people with "very poor immigration histories", according to the chief borders inspector. | The Home Office has granted British citizenship to people with "very poor immigration histories", according to the chief borders inspector. |
Citizenship was being approved without checking applicants' criminal records in their home country, John Vine found. | Citizenship was being approved without checking applicants' criminal records in their home country, John Vine found. |
In one case, officials did not look at files showing an asylum seeker had killed someone in their home country. | In one case, officials did not look at files showing an asylum seeker had killed someone in their home country. |
The Home Office said most of the issues were down to "wrong-headed decisions taken by the previous government". | The Home Office said most of the issues were down to "wrong-headed decisions taken by the previous government". |
Mr Vine, who will step down as chief inspector of borders and immigration at the end of this year, looked at 179 applications as part of a study of nationality casework. | Mr Vine, who will step down as chief inspector of borders and immigration at the end of this year, looked at 179 applications as part of a study of nationality casework. |
He said he had been "concerned" to discover that applications for UK citizenship were not being scrutinised appropriately. | He said he had been "concerned" to discover that applications for UK citizenship were not being scrutinised appropriately. |
The chief inspector agreed that decisions to refuse citizenship had been made correctly, but found that in several instances citizenship was granted without checking all the information available. | The chief inspector agreed that decisions to refuse citizenship had been made correctly, but found that in several instances citizenship was granted without checking all the information available. |
British citizenship had been granted to one person who had previously stabbed someone, and to another who had lived and worked illegally in Britain for 13 years. | British citizenship had been granted to one person who had previously stabbed someone, and to another who had lived and worked illegally in Britain for 13 years. |
Analysis | |
Danny Shaw, BBC home affairs correspondent | |
Citizenship is a serious business: last year, 235,000 people applied for UK citizenship, only 3% of whom were refused. It brings substantial benefits - including the right to a British passport, the ability to travel without restrictions into and out of the UK and an entitlement to vote and hold public office. | |
Allowing people with a criminal record or a history of breaching immigration laws to become British nationals has the potential to undermine security - and may suggest to some that the UK's immigration system is not only mismanaged but also a "soft touch". | |
If true, it's politically toxic. Does that explain why the Home Office took three months to publish the report? Ministers will deny it - but the publicity generated by John Vine's inspections is undoubtedly something they'd rather avoid. | |
Citizenship can be refused if someone has not been in Britain for long enough, if they have a recent or serious criminal record, or if they are judged not to be of "good character". | Citizenship can be refused if someone has not been in Britain for long enough, if they have a recent or serious criminal record, or if they are judged not to be of "good character". |
The report turned up no evidence that authorities were attempting to prosecute those who had lied in their applications, except in a few cases involving organised crime. | The report turned up no evidence that authorities were attempting to prosecute those who had lied in their applications, except in a few cases involving organised crime. |
'Serious failing' | |
While caseworkers generally provided good service and took account of automated police checks, the chief inspector concluded, they did not have routine access to paper records relating to individuals' histories. | While caseworkers generally provided good service and took account of automated police checks, the chief inspector concluded, they did not have routine access to paper records relating to individuals' histories. |
This amounted to a "serious failing" and made it likely that the failure to notice that one asylum applicant had previously killed someone "was not an isolated case". | This amounted to a "serious failing" and made it likely that the failure to notice that one asylum applicant had previously killed someone "was not an isolated case". |
Immigration and security minister James Brokenshire argued that most of the mistakes identified were the result of the previous government's approach. | Immigration and security minister James Brokenshire argued that most of the mistakes identified were the result of the previous government's approach. |
He drew attention to a number of changes brought in by the coalition such as scrapping the UK Border Agency, introducing interviews for visas and the reintroduction of credibility checks. | He drew attention to a number of changes brought in by the coalition such as scrapping the UK Border Agency, introducing interviews for visas and the reintroduction of credibility checks. |
British citizenship should be "treated as a privilege for those who deserve it, not an automatic right for those who do not", the minister added. | British citizenship should be "treated as a privilege for those who deserve it, not an automatic right for those who do not", the minister added. |