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'Go home' vans could be used across UK, says minister Immigration texts 'sent in error' prompt complaints
(about 9 hours later)
Home Office vans telling illegal immigrants to "go home or face arrest" could be "rolled out" across the UK, a minister has said. Home Office texts wrongly accusing people of being illegal immigrants have prompted more than 140 complaints.
Mark Harper told BBC One's Question Time the government was assessing the results of the scheme, which was piloted in London. Among those contacted was a veteran civil rights campaigner who has lived in Britain since 1966.
The Liberal Democrats have ruled out agreeing to use the vans in future. Officials have sent messages to almost 40,000 people they suspect of not having a right to be in the UK.
But Mr Harper, the Tory immigration minister, said he did not "have any problem" with the overall message. Meanwhile, a minister has said that vans telling illegal immigrants in London to "go home or face arrest" could be rolled out across the UK.
During July, vans were driven around the London boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge, Barnet, Brent, Ealing and Hounslow for a week. Mark Harper, the immigration minister, told BBC One's Question Time that the government was assessing the results of the scheme, which was piloted in the capital earlier this year.
A poster on the side displayed a picture of handcuffs and read: "In the UK illegally?... GO HOME OR FACE ARREST." 'Shocked and horrified'
Some critics complained that the tone was reminiscent of language used by the National Front in the 1970s. His department defended texting people urging them to contact border officials to discuss their immigration status.
"We believe it is right to enforce the rules," the Home Office said.
"We are taking proactive steps to contact individuals who records show have no valid right to be in the UK."
It said only 14 people had been contacted in error.
But two of them - campaigner Suresh Grover and immigration lawyer Bobby Chan - reacted angrily to the messages.
"I came here with my parents in 1966, I was born in East Africa and have a British passport," Mr Grover told the Independent newspaper - adding he was "shocked" and "horrified" to be contacted.
Mr Chan said the texts "stereotype immigrants as a criminal community and create an atmosphere of fear."
Ministers awarded outsourcing company Capita the contract to trace people believed to have outstayed their visas.
The message read: "Our records show you may not have leave to remain in the UK. Please contact us to discuss your case."
'Go home' vans
The complaints come after the government was criticised for using vans with a picture of handcuffs telling immigrants to "go home" if they were not entitled to be in the UK.
During July, they were driven around the London boroughs 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.
But Mr Harper told Question Time he did not "have any problem" with the overall message and if they had proved successful could be used in other parts of the country.
Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable said the campaign had been "stupid and offensive".Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable said the campaign had been "stupid and offensive".
And his party colleague, Home Office minister Jeremy Browne, who has since lost his job, said the Lib Dems would not "be agreeing any proposals to bring them back".And his party colleague, Home Office minister Jeremy Browne, who has since lost his job, said the Lib Dems would not "be agreeing any proposals to bring them back".
Earlier this month, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned the posters, saying they had misled the public about the arrest statistics displayed.Earlier this month, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned the posters, saying they had misled the public about the arrest statistics displayed.
However, it cleared the campaign of being offensive and irresponsible.However, it cleared the campaign of being offensive and irresponsible.
Mr Harper told Question Time the general message had not been wrong. Mr Harper said: "I don't have any problem with saying to people who are here illegally that they shouldn't be here anymore."
He said: "I don't have any problem with saying to people who are here illegally that they shouldn't be here anymore."
He added: "It's a pilot. We are assessing the results at the moment."He added: "It's a pilot. We are assessing the results at the moment."
Mr Harper also said: "We are going to publish the results when we have done the evaluation. If it's successful, we will roll it out. If it's not, we won't."Mr Harper also said: "We are going to publish the results when we have done the evaluation. If it's successful, we will roll it out. If it's not, we won't."