Thousands of illegal immigrants working in security roles

Published on 30 Nov 2007

Up to 5,000 illegal immigrants have been issued with Security Industry Authority licences allowing them to work as security guards in the UK.

The news sparked outrage in opposition parties who cited the revelation as further proof that the Home Office was not fit for purpose.

Shadow immigration minister Damian Green said:

"What is extraordinary about this latest Home Office fiasco is that we have been through this before.
"Last year the Home Office discovered it was employing illegal immigrants as cleaners in the immigration department itself.
"From these new revelations it looks like no effective action was taken to check who has access to some of the most sensitive buildings in this country."

The Metropolitan Police are also believed to have employed illegal immigrants hold SIA licences.

Talking on Radio 4's Today programme Andy Drane, deputy chief executive of the SIA, said,

"The employer is responsible for ensuring that anyone it employs has a legal right to work in the United Kingdom"

Pressed on how big the problem was, he said:

"I don't think there will be very many (illegals) working in sensitive areas.
"I think it's important to say that the people we licence work in a range of different sites - they could be door supervisors at nightclubs, they could be at shopping centres, they could be in factory estates and so on."

The SIA has issued guidance on the matter and published the statement made by the Home Secretary to Parliament. There is also a public register of suspended and revoked licence holders that anyone planning to employ security staff is being urged to check.

This information is available form the SIA website.