Lib Dems Force Crack Down on Illegal Immigration at M40 Warwick Services
December 16, 2008 6:02 PM
After a successful two-year campaign by Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Nigel Rock, authorities concerned with illegal immigration have improved the systems on the M40 in Warwickshire. Now suspected illegal immigrants are detained at once by UKBA, the United Kingdom Border Agency, and processed within the immigration system rather than being released within Warwickshire.
Nigel Rock, who as a district councillor represents part of the police beat that covers the M40 service area at Lighthorne, became concerned at the number of illegal immigrants disembarking as stowaways from heavy goods vehicles at the M40 services and the problems this was causing local people. After asking under the Freedom of Information Act for a copy of the formal instructions given to local police, he discovered that the police were required to release suspects without identification and tell them simply to find their way to either Liverpool or Croydon for registration with the authorities.
"The system was completely barmy, and I'm sure most of the illegal immigrants disappeared without trace,' he said. 'They could have been anyone, and no attempt was made to identify or apprehend them. We seemed to be operating a completely different system from that at the border entry point."
Chris Huhne M.P. with Nigel Rock
Nigel Rock raised his concerns with Chris Huhne MP, the Lib Dem Shadow Home Secretary, who agreed to ask a question in Parliament how such an instruction could be sanctioned by central government. Shortly after the question was put the UK Border Agency began work to improve the process and providing necessary resources. The new policy took effect from early November.
Nigel Rock said "Although this is a huge improvement, and should reassure the people of the area that illegal immigrants are being properly dealt with, it doesn't end here. I have asked the authorities to improve resources further, and have had a positive response. Following a meeting on 5 December with Warwickshire Police and UKBA it was agreed to investigate better CCTV and a number of other measures to improve detection. Most encouraging, however, was the agreement to base an immigration officer locally to respond to these incidents."
"Residents in the areas round the M40 services will welcome these developments, and will be pleased that their Lib Dem representatives have been working hard on their behalf. Beyond that we don't want leaky borders, and everyone will want to know that these stowaways are being properly dealt with. Many of them are victims of people trafficking or immigration fraud, but equally some could be very undesirable indeed, and the people of Warwickshire deserve proper consideration."
Liz Lynne MEP with Nigel Rock at M40 services
Liz Lynne, Liberal Democrat MEP for the West Midlands, who visited the site with Nigel Rock in April said "Clearly these people have passed through other European countries, yet they're still arriving here. We need to continue and enhance co-operation with other European authorities to help stem the tide. Prevention is better than cure."
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