Lorry drop immigrants 'set free'

The Kettering MP called for tighter laws on "lorry drop" immigrants

A Tory MP has urged ministers to look into allegations so-called "lorry drop immigrants" were still being set free in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

Last year, Philip Hollobone urged laws be tightened after it emerged police routinely told asylum seekers to make their own way to an immigration centre.

The Kettering MP told the Commons illegal immigrants who were found were still being released by officials.

Commons leader Harriet Harman denied the Cambridgeshire allegations.

She said the allegations relating to Bedfordshire would be referred to Justice Secretary Jack Straw.

'National disgrace'

In October, Mr Hollobone called for a change in the law to prevent officials from letting asylum seekers and illegal immigrants go after it emerged police routinely told illegal immigrants to make their own way to an immigration centre in Croydon.

The MP said officials should be prevented by law from letting asylum seekers go saying it was a "national disgrace" that people smuggled into the UK in lorries had been routinely released.

Junior Home Office minister Meg Hillier said the government was introducing a range of measures to tighten border controls and procedures on so-called "lorry drops" had been tightened-up.

She told MPs: "The police should not have released those who were released, and we have ensured that that will not happen again."

However, earlier this month Cambridgeshire Police confirmed nine illegal immigrants disappeared after they were put on a train by police and told to head to the Croydon centre.

Police said they made the decision on the advice of immigration officials, but the Border and Immigration Service denied it had given that advice.

Mr Hollobone said: "In recent weeks we have had incidents in both Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire of illegal immigrants being set free.

"Can we have a Home Office statement as to what actually is government policy with regard to these lorry drop immigrants?"