Illegal immigrant at Home Office

The man would have checked security at Westminster offices

An illegal immigrant was employed as a security guard at the Home Office, the government has admitted.

The man worked at the front desk of the department's headquarters in Westminster checking people's passes.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said problems were identified with one of the sub-contractors providing services to the Home Office.

His job would have involved checking the passes of people visiting Ms Smith, ministers and senior civil servants.

Deportation proceedings have now begun against the guard.

Rechecking staff

Ms Smith said that problems had been identified with one of the sub-contractors providing services to the Home Office.

This led on Friday to the identification and arrest of one member of the sub-contractor's security staff who did not have the right to work.

The man is from Nigeria and had been working for the security company for more than 18 months.

"The Home Office is now working with the sub-contractor to recheck individually the right to work of all their security staff supplied to the Home Office," Ms Smith said.

BBC Home Affairs correspondent Danny Shaw added that it was also revealed last year how a number of cleaners at immigration offices in Croydon were illegal workers.