This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/6478307.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Raids target passport factories | Raids target passport factories |
(1 day later) | |
Police have arrested 22 people in an operation to crack down on illegal passport factories in London. | |
More than 100 officers were involved in the dawn raids on Wednesday, in which 13 addresses were searched. | |
Police said during the operation, codenamed Greenhill, £40,000 in cash was seized as well as fake passports, driving licences and identity papers. | |
The raids were led by the Metropolitan Police's Operation Maxim team, which tackles immigration crime. | The raids were led by the Metropolitan Police's Operation Maxim team, which tackles immigration crime. |
Of those held, 19 have been arrested on suspicion of a range of crimes including unlawful facilitation, identity card offences and possession and conspiracy to produce and distribute false documents. | Of those held, 19 have been arrested on suspicion of a range of crimes including unlawful facilitation, identity card offences and possession and conspiracy to produce and distribute false documents. |
Three people have been dealt with for immigration offences. | Three people have been dealt with for immigration offences. |
True identities | True identities |
Det Ch Insp John Kielty from Operation Maxim, said: "The production of false passports enables others to commit a range of serious crime. | Det Ch Insp John Kielty from Operation Maxim, said: "The production of false passports enables others to commit a range of serious crime. |
"This operation tackles the criminals who try to hide their true identities from enforcement authorities." | "This operation tackles the criminals who try to hide their true identities from enforcement authorities." |
The Metropolitan Police worked with the UK Immigration Service, the Identity and Passport Service, South Yorkshire Police and the Department of Work and Pensions in the latest operation. | The Metropolitan Police worked with the UK Immigration Service, the Identity and Passport Service, South Yorkshire Police and the Department of Work and Pensions in the latest operation. |
The addresses searched were in Walthamstow, Rotherhithe, Ilford, Upper Holloway, South Lambeth, Hackney, Brixton, Kilburn, Stoke Newington, Tottenham, Bermondsey and Greenford. | The addresses searched were in Walthamstow, Rotherhithe, Ilford, Upper Holloway, South Lambeth, Hackney, Brixton, Kilburn, Stoke Newington, Tottenham, Bermondsey and Greenford. |
Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said: "The operation shows our shared determination to attack the organised crime that accounts for as much as three quarters of illegal immigration to Britain." | Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said: "The operation shows our shared determination to attack the organised crime that accounts for as much as three quarters of illegal immigration to Britain." |
Previous version
1
Next version