Border Checks: May Accused Of 'Cover-Up'

The Home Office has been accused of a "cover-up" after parts of a critical report into UK border controls were kept secret.

A total of 15 sections of the report into controls between France and the UK were redacted for national security reasons.

They include part of a passage revealing staff and managers fear resources in Calais are stretched.

A section on the so-called Lille loophole, which effectively exempts some passengers travelling to Britain on the Eurostar from UK immigration checks, is partly-redacted.

Politicians and campaigners claim Theresa May has hidden "her own failings" exposed in the report by chief inspector of borders and immigration John Vine.

Keith Vaz, chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said: "The committee has been assured in the past that the loophole would be closed. The withholding of information prevents us from properly holding the Border Force to account."

Under fire: Home Secretary Theresa May

Chris Bryant, shadow immigration minister, added: "Yet again the Government refuses to be straight with the British people about immigration and our borders.

"This cover-up and the failure at our borders provide yet more dents in this Government's much-tarnished credibility.

"What possible reason can there be for redacting elements of a report by a highly-respected independent inspector?"

UKIP leader Nigel Farage described the redactions as "extremely concerning" and said: "We have to ask what on earth are they hiding?"

Alp Mehmet, vice-chairman of campaigners Migration Watch UK, said: "Transparency has to be the best policy, if only to show that the Home Office has nothing to hide."

Uncensored parts of the report reveal thousands of illegal immigrants attempting to sneak into the UK through France have not been fingerprinted by border staff for almost four years.

No fingerprints or photographs have been taken of them at Calais since January 2010 because of problems with the availability of cells to hold them in.

The checks were also later stopped at Coquelles, the site of the entrance to the Channel Tunnel.

Mr Vine said the information could prove crucial when testing the quality of asylum claims if they later manage to get into the UK.

The Border Force, which works at ports and airports, was also shown to be fining drivers and firms guilty of bringing in illegal immigrants at way below the maximum allowed by law.

The maximum penalty is £4,000 per illegal immigrant - £2,000 to the driver and £2,000 to the carrier - but the report said none of the fines imposed were "remotely close" to that level.

The Home Office said the Home Secretary was required to redact any material that could be prejudicial to the interests of national security if published.

Of the public findings, the spokesman added: "This report shows Border Force, through excellent working relationships with the French and Belgian authorities, continues to prevent those with no right to enter the UK from doing so.

"John Vine acknowledges the high level of security checks and the courteous and professional approach of Border Force staff.

"Border Force has already addressed many of the issues raised in this inspection and will look at all the recommendations in detail as part of our continuing drive to improve performance."

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