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Text messages asked wrong people if they were illegal immigrants Text messages asked wrong people if they were illegal immigrants
(35 minutes later)
The Home Office has denied claims it frequently accuses people who have right to be in the UK of being illegal immigrants by text message. The Home Office has denied claims it frequently accuses people who have a right to be in the UK of being illegal immigrants by text message.
It says just 14 people were contacted in error by contractor Capita out of a total of 58,800 people suspected of not having the right to be in the UK. It says just 14 people out of a total of 58,800 contacted by contractor Capita to ask if they had overstayed their visa were mistakenly accused.
Campaigners say the true number of people wrongly accused is far higher. Campaigners say the true number of people wrongly contacted is far higher.
The Home Office said it was "right to enforce the rules" but Labour said it was "shambolic and incompetent".The Home Office said it was "right to enforce the rules" but Labour said it was "shambolic and incompetent".
Some people suspected of having outstayed their visas were sent a text reading: "Our records show you may not have leave to remain in the UK. Please contact us to discuss your case."Some people suspected of having outstayed their visas were sent a text reading: "Our records show you may not have leave to remain in the UK. Please contact us to discuss your case."
'Atmosphere of fear'
Two recipients of the texts - campaigner Suresh Grover and immigration lawyer Bobby Chan - reacted angrily to the message.Two recipients of the texts - campaigner Suresh Grover and immigration lawyer Bobby Chan - reacted angrily to the message.
"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 in this way."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 in this way.
Mr Chan said the texts "stereotype immigrants as a criminal community and create an atmosphere of fear."Mr Chan said the texts "stereotype immigrants as a criminal community and create an atmosphere of fear."
But the Home Office defended its position: "We are taking proactive steps to contact individuals who records show have no valid right to be in the UK."But the Home Office defended its position: "We are taking proactive steps to contact individuals who records show have no valid right to be in the UK."
The individuals affected had been contacted in a variety of ways, including email and text, it added.The individuals affected had been contacted in a variety of ways, including email and text, it added.
It also denied that Mr Grover had been contacted at all.It also denied that Mr Grover had been contacted at all.
The department has received more than 140 complaints about the campaign, although Capita said: "Most complaints occurred in the early part of the contract where Capita was, as part of the contract, updating sometimes out-of-date Home Office records."The department has received more than 140 complaints about the campaign, although Capita said: "Most complaints occurred in the early part of the contract where Capita was, as part of the contract, updating sometimes out-of-date Home Office records."
'Stupid and offensive''Stupid and offensive'
Labour's shadow immigration minister David Hanson said: "Theresa May's immigration system lurches from one gimmick to another with little effect.Labour's shadow immigration minister David Hanson said: "Theresa May's immigration system lurches from one gimmick to another with little effect.
"The reports that the government has allowed a private contractor to send British citizens text message telling them to leave the country demonstrates once more just how shambolic and incompetent the Home Office's border police is under Theresa May."The reports that the government has allowed a private contractor to send British citizens text message telling them to leave the country demonstrates once more just how shambolic and incompetent the Home Office's border police is under Theresa May.
"These messages will rightly cause distress and offence to British citizens, many of whom have done much to contribute to our society. It is simply wrong for this sort of message to be sent by text, and to be so poorly targeted.""These messages will rightly cause distress and offence to British citizens, many of whom have done much to contribute to our society. It is simply wrong for this sort of message to be sent by text, and to be so poorly targeted."
UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who campaigns for tighter border controls and Britain's exit from the EU, said the text message scheme was the product of a government with "absolutely zero sensibility and even less sense".
"To send threatening text messages and emails to people on some sort of clearly ill-managed central database is deeply disturbing and the sort of behaviour one would expect from a fascistic police state, not a democratic and inclusive nation. Quite frankly it's abhorrent."
UKIP MEP candidate Amjad Bashir said: "I find it utterly repugnant that people like me, who may have been born abroad but who are passport-holding and hard-working citizens of the UK are being threatened by the government in this way."
Meanwhile, immigration minister Mark Harper has said that vans telling illegal immigrants in London to "go home or face arrest" could be deployed across the UK.Meanwhile, immigration minister Mark Harper has said that vans telling illegal immigrants in London to "go home or face arrest" could be deployed across the UK.
He 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.He 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.
During July, they were driven around the London boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge, Barnet, Brent, Ealing and Hounslow for a week.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.Labour accused ministers of "borrowing the language" used by the National Front in the 1970s.
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".
But Mr Harper told Question Time: "I don't have any problem with saying to people who are here illegally that they shouldn't be here anymore."But Mr Harper told Question Time: "I don't have any problem with saying to people who are here illegally that they shouldn't be here anymore."