Asylum seekers' release condemned

The asylum seekers were found at a lay-by on the A45 near Flore

A group of Iraqi asylum seekers held by police in Northants were told to make their own way to an immigration centre in Croydon, it has been revealed.

Immigration officials told police to release the people who were held after being found at a lay-by on the A45 near Flore, Northants, last Wednesday.

The decision was condemned as "outrageous" by Tory MP for Northampton South, Brian Binley.

The Home Office says it aims to respond to all police calls where possible.

'Very lax'

Northamptonshire Police said at no point were they asked to detain the men, and this type of incident happened each week.

Mr Binley said: "I know we have been very lax - in terms of understanding and knowing who has been coming in to this country even from Europe.

"But to have people come from Iraq... to tell the local police force to let them go and ask them to report to Croydon seems to be totally outrageous."

In a statement the Home Office said: "Last year the Border and Immigration Agency prevented 17,000 people from crossing the Channel illegally.

"We aim to respond to all calls from the police when they encounter lorry drops where this is operationally possible. Record numbers of immigration offenders were removed from the country in 2006."