55. Memorandum submitted by
Liam Byrne MP, Minister of State for Immigration, Citizenship
and Nationality
Further to my appearance before the Home Affairs
Committee on 13 June with Lord Triesman and senior officials,
I am writing to provide the further information requested by the
Committee.
A copy of a report on investigating corruption
last year which recommended more investment for data mining (Q1190).
Please see annex A—PEO Report, written
by the non-executive director, Tim Gbedemah and published 3 March
2006. [Not printed.]
Figures from the UKvisas operational integrity
section on operations and outcomes for the last 10 years (Q1191).
UKvisas' Operational Integrity Section (formerly
Malpractice Section) was established in 2002, when the Joint Entry
Clearance Unit (JECU) became UKvisas. JECU had been formed in
June 2000 as a joint department of the Home Office and FCO. Prior
to the formation of JECU, visa operations had been the responsibility
of the FCO Migration and Visa Department.
Records date back to 1998. From 1998 to the
end of 2005, 85 cases were investigated. The results of those
investigations were as follows:
— 63 staff dismissed;
— 10 staff received written warnings;
— three staff withdrawn from post;
— two cases referred to the police
and CPS; and
— the remaining seven investigations
found there was no case to answer.
These figures include both UK based and locally
engaged members of visa section staff.
What has been done to follow up Operation Paladin
Child, specifically in relation to communication between immigration
officers and social services both at ports and subsequently (Qg
1193-7)
IND is building upon various arrangements which
help identify and protect children arriving at ports in the UK
who may be vulnerable. These include the specially trained teams
of immigration officers—known as "minors teams"—at
22 ports; and the development this summer of special teams of
social workers based at five ports and screening units.
Specially trained teams of Immigration Officers
Specially trained teams of Immigration Officers,
known as "minors teams", have been established at 22
ports to deal with all cases of unaccompanied children. They have
arrangements for round-the-clock referral to police and local
authority children's services where this is necessary. These arrangements
have supported the development of closer working arrangements
between the Immigration Service, the police and local authority
children services departments—and will support the involvement
of the Immigration Service in the work of the newly established
Local Safeguarding Children's Boards. In addition, guidance for
all Immigration Officers has been issued, which advises them how
to identify any child entering the UK who may be at risk, whether
they are travelling alone or with adults, and what action to take.
Special teams of social workers
Teams of social workers are being specially
established at five ports and asylum screening units principally
to help identify the particular needs of unaccompanied asylum-seeking
children to help develop plans to safeguard their welfare. A team
comprising five social workers, plus professional and administrative
support, is already in place at the asylum screening unit in Liverpool.
Teams, comprising seven social workers at the screening unit in
Croydon; eight from Hillingdon at Heathrow; five from Kent based
at Dover, and five from West Sussex based at Gatwick, will be
in place later this summer. These arrangements complement the
programme to reform the arrangements under which local authorities
receive over £140 million each year from the Home Office
to look after unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
A note on who can get access to which different
databases, and a timetable for implementing improved access across
databases and then for creating a single database of information
on immigration Status, right to work, to benefits etc (Qg1198-1200).
Current access to databases
UKvisas staff in over 150 Posts around the world
use an IT caseworking system called Proviso, which passes information
back daily into a central database, CRS (Central Reference System).
CRS is available through a restricted Government Intranet to staff
of IND and other Departments involved in immigration control,
law enforcement and national security, and is used to provide
regular updates to the Home Office Warnings Index and its eventual
successor, the e-Borders watch-list. UKvisas staff overseas check
all visa applications against the Warnings Index. In over 10 countries,
they also check all applications against IND's biometric database,
IAFS (Immigration and Asylum Fingerprint System).
Iris Recognition Immigration System (IRIS)
IRIS (Iris Recognition Immigration System) is
a biometric automated border entry system for pre-registered travellers
using iris recognition technology and is available at selected
ports in the United Kingdom.
Each time a passenger uses the IRIS, automated
barriers on the primary arrivals control to enter the United Kingdom
an electronic record is kept of their date and time of arrival
[in the IRIS database].
The IRIS database is currently managed by WICU
Information may be disclosed to other government departments and
agencies for official reasons although iris images and iris codes
will not be disclosed.
Case Information Database(CID)
CID is the main IND caseworking database. Insofar
as UKIS Border Control is concerned, all arriving passengers who
are required to submit to further examination are entered on the
system, with full biographic data, arrival details and passport
information. As their "case" progresses the system is
updated until final resolution which can be either a grant or
refusal of leave to enter. The system is also used to record any
subsequent applications for leave to remain or applications for
asylum or nationality. All UKIS operational staff have access
to this system.
Home Office Warnings Index (HOWI)
HOWI is a database containing a watchlist of
persons who are of interest to the core border agencies. A passenger's
document is swiped and the machine readable zone containing the
biographic data and passport details are searched against the
system records. If their details are recorded on the system, further
enquiries are made at back office terminals. A technology refresh
of this system is about to take place and once completed, will
enable a record to be maintained of each transaction.
Omnibase
Omnibase is the IPS (formerly UKPS) database
containing the details of all passport applications. A limited
number of UKIS operational staff have access to this system to
verify passport details and establish the right holder of the
document.
Central Reference System (CRS)
CRS is the UKvisas database containing the full
details of visa applications submitted at UK missions abroad.
UKIS Border Control operational staff have access to this system
at "back office" terminals at ports of arrival.
Future timetable
Subject to the Fitness For Purpose exercise
and it's conclusions, by 2008, all visa applications will be checked
against both the Warnings Index and IND's biometric database.
Improved database capacity and communications systems will make
these watch-lists checks quicker and more comprehensive. From
2008, building on the success of Project Semaphore, the roll-out
of full e-Borders will give UKvisas access to an expanded system
of watch-list checks supported by staff from the four core agencies
involved (IND, UKvisas, Police, Revenue and Customs). Also from
2008, to support the implementation of the new Points-Based System
for Managed Migration, UKvisas intends to introduce a new IT caseworking
system enabling closer integration with IND. Integration with
the primary line provides the capability to capture leave to enter
decisions in a single database, and will be delivered in early
2009.
Single list?
These plans are subject to the outcome of the
current Strategic Review of IND, which will clarify the Government's
strategy for developing a single identity and border management
architecture. in addition to technological issues, we need to
develop this architecture in a way that complies with the Data
Protection Act and other privacy legislation. As Lord Triesman
suggested to the Committee on 13 June, this is likely to mean
the "integration of different lists" rather than "the
existence of single one.
Copy of, or information on, the MoU to be signed
with SOCA about access to criminal information and criminal records
for ECOs (Q1199)
UKvisas is currently in discussion with the
Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) with a view to signing
a Partnership Agreement on the sharing of information. SOCA is
in the process of drawing up similar agreements with other law
enforcement agencies. The very clear intent of such an agreement
is to facilitate closer working between the two organisations.
A Partnership Agreement will recognise that information exchange
is fundamental to building knowledge and that so doing will assist
in the detection, prevention and reduction of serious organised
crime. The Agreement will set out the legal framework for the
collection and exchange of data and the provisions and procedures
to be followed. It is hoped to draft, agree and sign the Partnership
Agreement by the end of the summer.
Will NINos be withdrawn from people who no longer
have the right to work or claim benefits in the UK? (Q1204)
The DWP will issue a response on this question
separately on 26 June.
The timetable for implementing the DWP's 5 June
announcement that NlNos would not be issued unless the person
has a right to work in the UK. (Qq1213-1221)
The DWP will issue a response on this question
separately on 26 June.
Will NINos also be refused to people who do not
have the right to access public funds in the UK? (Q1222)
The DWP will issue a response on this question
separately on 26 June.
Further information on deporting Irish nationals
from UK prisons on completion of their sentence (Q1229)
This is receiving active consideration and I
will provide you with a response at the earliest opportunity.
I am copying this letter to Lord Triesman, joint
Minister for UKvisas, who has seen and agreed the content.
23 June 2006
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