8:38AM BST 18 Oct 2013
‘Go Home’ vans could be introduced across Britain, the
Immigration Minister has said.
Immigration Minister has said.
The controversial vans, which carry posters telling illegal
migrants to leave the country or face arrest, could appear in
more British cities following a trial in London, Mark Harper
said.
migrants to leave the country or face arrest, could appear in
more British cities following a trial in London, Mark Harper
said.
During July, they were driven around the London boroughs
of Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge, Barnet, Brent, Ealing
and Hounslow for a week.
of Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge, Barnet, Brent, Ealing
and Hounslow for a week.
Labour accused ministers of "borrowing the language" used
by the National Front in the 1970s.
by the National Front in the 1970s.
The poster displayed a picture of handcuffs and read: "In the
UK illegally?... GO HOME OR FACE ARREST."
UK illegally?... GO HOME OR FACE ARREST."
The Advertising Standards Agency has cleared the campaign
of being offensive but ruled the statistics carried on the van were inaccurate.
of being offensive but ruled the statistics carried on the van were inaccurate.
Mr Harper said the vans would be rolled out to other areas if
the pilot, which is now being evaluated, was deemed to be
effective.
the pilot, which is now being evaluated, was deemed to be
effective.
“I don’t see any problem with saying to people who have no right
to be in the United Kingdom they can’t be here anymore,” he told
BBC Question.
to be in the United Kingdom they can’t be here anymore,” he told
BBC Question.
“If it’s successful we’ll look at rolling it out, if it’s not successful,
we won’t,” he said.
we won’t,” he said.
The campaign caused tensions within the Coalition. Vince
Cable, the business secretary, said it was “stupid and offensive”.
Jeremy Browne, the home office minister who has since lost his
job,said he would not allow them to come back.
Cable, the business secretary, said it was “stupid and offensive”.
Jeremy Browne, the home office minister who has since lost his
job,said he would not allow them to come back.
Separately, a Home Office text message campaign accusing
people of being illegal immigrants has received 140 complaints
after some people were contacted in error.
people of being illegal immigrants has received 140 complaints
after some people were contacted in error.
Officials have sent messages to almost 40,000 people they
suspect of not having a right to be in the UK, instructing them
to contact border officials to discuss their immigration status.
suspect of not having a right to be in the UK, instructing them
to contact border officials to discuss their immigration status.
Fourteen people had been incorrectly contacted, the Home
Office said.
Office said.
Ministers commissioned Capita, the outsourcing company,
to trace people believed to have outstayed their visas.
to trace people believed to have outstayed their visas.
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