Immigration Enforcement a priority in the North East

As part of this visit the Minister will meet members of the North Shields Enforcement Unit in North Shields to talk about their role in defeating illegal immigration, which led directly to the removal of 469 immigration offenders in 2005.

Removing immigration offenders from UK streets and businesses is the number one priority for the Immigration Minister, who welcomed the success of recent operations.

The visit follows an intelligence led enforcement operation in Newcastle on Monday evening which identified one immigration offenders, action has already begun to remove them.

Liam Byrne said:

“It is vital that we crack down on individuals working in the UK illegally - those who overstay their visas or who are failed asylum seekers who’ve refused to return home. The Government’s immigration enforcement units around the country do important work week on week and it’s essential the local community know this work is being done.

“The Immigration Service is committed to working hard to identify immigration offenders in their area and ensure that employers and the individuals are under no illusions that there is nowhere to hide if they are breaking the law.”

During his visit the Minister met staff and toured the North Shields enforcement unit, which serves the whole of Tyne and Wear and employs a total of 43 staff. The unit plays a vital role in delivering the Immigration Services commitment to identifying and removing those who have no right to stay in the country.

The Minister also took the opportunity during his visit to meet with representatives from local businesses and public service providers to discuss the immigration services’ work in their area.