A woman in her 40s has been arrested on suspicion of coaching asylum seekers to lie about their sexuality in order to remain in the United Kingdom, Home Office minister Mike Tapp has confirmed.
Footage Shows Raid on London Home
Mr Tapp shared footage of immigration enforcement officers raiding a residence in London as part of an investigation into what he described as 'dodgy immigration advisors'. In the video, officers are seen entering the property while the minister accompanies them.
Posting the clip on social media, Mr Tapp declared: 'We are not having it.' He explained that the suspect was accused of encouraging asylum seekers to pretend to be gay to secure asylum. Advisors providing such advice would be 'gaming' and 'undermining' the immigration system, he said.
'It undercuts the British public because it means that people may be getting asylum when they quite simply shouldn't be,' Mr Tapp stated.
Arrests Made and Charges Filed
The woman was arrested on suspicion of providing an illegal immigration service under section 91 of the Immigration and Asylum Act. A man in his early 20s was also arrested on suspicion of fraud in connection with the same investigation.
Immigration minister Mr Tapp emphasised the government's stance: 'If lawyers, or so-called lawyers, and legal advisers are out there providing this dodgy advice, we're coming after them. And as you've seen today, we'll make those arrests.'
He added: 'Our asylum system is there for people who are genuinely fleeing persecution and war and I'm really proud of that. People that are trying to abuse it will not be accepted.'
BBC Investigation Uncovers 'Shadow Industry'
In March, a BBC investigation uncovered a 'shadow industry' of law firms and advisors helping migrants create fake cover stories, including claiming to be gay. This involved obtaining supporting letters, photographs, and medical reports. The BBC reported that individuals would then claim to be gay and fear for their lives if forced to return to countries like Pakistan or Bangladesh.
In response, the Home Office stated: 'Anyone found trying to exploit the system will face the full force of the law, including removal from the UK.' The investigation also revealed that lawyers charged up to £7,000 to assist with false asylum claims, with one lawyer admitting to helping clients pretend to be gay or atheists.
