The Home Office the branch of Government responsible for tracking immigration into the United Kingdom has not had an up-to-date estimate of the size of the illegal population in the UK in 15 years, according to a report.
The last estimate was made in 2005 and it suggested around 430,000 people lived in the United Kingdom without the legal rights to do so, according to the National Audit Office.
Its report into the Home Office’s immigration enforcement directorate said the department has instead estimated demand for immigration enforcement activity, which it put at between 240,000 and 320,000 cases per year.
In a statement, the National Audit Office (NAO) said: “The Home Office does not have an up-to-date estimate of how many people have no right to remain in the UK. Its last estimate was around 430,000 people in 2005.
“More recent estimates from other organisations suggest the population might have doubled, although the NAO has not validated these estimates.
“The Home Office estimates demand for immigration enforcement activity to be between 240,000 and 320,000 cases per year, but it does not know whether demand is growing or falling.
“It also has not consistently defined what constitutes ‘harm’ caused by the illegal population and who it affects.”
During last year’s General Election campaign Home Secretary Priti Patel vowed to “reduce immigration overall” and completely stop illegal crossings into the UK via the English Channel.
The highest estimate given by the Pew Research Centre last year claimed the UK could have 1.2million illegally living in the nation, despite this the NAO said it had not attempted to verify the number.
The report said: “Although there would be significant uncertainty around any estimate it (the department) developed, such an estimate could help the department to demonstrate that its activities are effective in deterring attempts to enter or remain in the UK illegally.”
Meg Hillier, a Labour MP and Chairwoman of the Public Accounts Committee, said: “The Home Office has no idea how many people are in the country illegally and doesn’t seem interested in finding out.
“It can’t demonstrate that its actions to control illegal immigration are working as intended, and doesn’t understand how different aspects of its work fit together.”
Gareth Davies, Head of the NAO, said: “The work of Immigration Enforcement by its very nature is complex and challenging.
“While the Home Office has introduced significant changes to its enforcement activity, it cannot demonstrate that overall performance is improving.
“The Department needs a better understanding of the impact of its immigration enforcement activity on its overarching vision to reduce the size of the illegal population and the harm it causes.”
A Home Office Spokesman said: “We have taken back control of our immigration system and for the first time in a generation, we will have full control over who comes and stays here. As this report acknowledges, the nature of immigration crime and offending is complicated and we are consistently looking at ways to get ahead of the organised gangs behind it.
“We work tirelessly with international partners and agencies, such as the NCA, to tackle illegal migration, close down routes for people smuggling and return those with no right to remain the UK wherever possible. We make no apology for seeking to deport foreign national offenders and since 2010 we have removed more than 53,000 criminals.”
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Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
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