Immigration enforcement has made arrests after an investigation uncovered that migrants were lying about their sexuality to get asylum. The arrests were made in connection with a suspected criminal network believed to be behind dozens of fake claims.
The network is accused of charging migrants up to £4,500 for forged evidence, including staged pictures and fake documents. It is believed they have helped dozens of Bangladeshi men make false claims of fearing for their lives if they returned home due to being gay.
Investigation details
According to Chris Foster, a regional lead for criminal investigations at the Home Office, the fake claims were connected to a Bangladeshi community LGBT organisation called Apanjon, based in Whitechapel, east London. Two people were arrested at an address in London on suspicion of fraud and immigration offences. Phones, jewellery and thousands of pounds in cash were also seized, while a third person was arrested on suspicion of being in the country illegally.
Foster explained that caseworkers had noticed patterns in suspicious claims, which raised concerns, the BBC reports. Following an investigation, it was found that the group was charging between £1,000 and £4,500 for fake letters.
Evidence and impact
He added: "It could be letters of support from Apanjon, it could be staged photographs, suggesting that these people are gay, it could be letters from people claiming to be in a friendship or a sexual relationship - [a] same-sex relationship - as the claimants."
More than 100 asylum claims linked to the criminal network are being reviewed by the Home Office. Foster said some of the fake asylum applications would have "undoubtedly" been granted.
The Home Office said the group would often vouch for men who claimed asylum on the basis they were gay only after having initially refused on political grounds. In one case, a man did not mention his sexuality until nine years after his original claim.
Men attending one of the group's events at a community centre in Beckton, east London, claimed they were not really gay. One said: "Nobody is a gay here. Not even 1% are gay. Not even 0.01% are gay."
Official response
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said "those faking persecution are beneath contempt and mock real victims who need protection".
"To the gangs profiting from this disgraceful fraud: you will be prosecuted, stripped of your dirty money and shut down," she said. "And to those cheating the system, your claim will be thrown out, and you will be removed from this country."
A conviction for asylum fraud carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
