Some of the Government’s lack of joined up thinking is truly breathtaking. Having abandoned border controls over the last few years we now find that the Department of Work & Pensions has been issuing a National Insurance number to any illegal immigrant who cared to ask for one.
The scale of this cavalier approach is still unfolding but, we already know that in 2004/5 440,000 N.I. numbers were handed out to foreign workers but, the DWP only screened 2000 of these applications for immigration checks.
Richard Kitchen, the chief investigation officer at the DWP, issued (in 2005) clarification to Job Centres for staff who have suspicions about a foreigner’s immigration status. The DWP have confirmed his guidance, below is still in operation:
“Applicant in employment and has falsified a genuine immigration document. Where Department of Work Pensions is satisfied as to the individual’s identity, a NINO (national insurance number) would be issued in this situation even if we have suspicions around his immigration status.”
Garry Gibson, of the Identity and Security Branch, Programme Protection Division, at Jobcentre Plus said
“Any prosecution action in respect of the falsified immigration documentation would be the responsibility of IND (Immigration Nationality Directorate) — Not the DWP.”
So one Department of Government (the IND) is supposedly trying to curb illegal immigration, while another Department (DWP) is handing out N.I. numbers like confetti, regardless of immigration status.
You just couldn’t make it up!
This problem has been known about by several Home Office Ministers who have applied sticking plaster solutions. If you want to know more about this issue read this excellent article in the Registry
It reminds me of the Home Office approach to sham marriages, which was basically an organised scam to get UK resident status for many immigrants. Registry Offices often reported cases to the Home Office. The usual advice was classic “Do what you think is right!” ie it’s your decision not mine.
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