Lawyers who coach illegal migrants to lie to get permission to stay in the UK face life in prison.
The government has set up a taskforce to pursue “conmen” lawyers who set out to game the immigration system in return for money.
The Home Office said the group would include regulatory bodies, law enforcement teams and other Government departments, who would find and prosecute the lawyers.
?? “The overwhelming majority of immigration lawyers continue to support the #RuleOfLaw.”
Deputy vice president Richard Atkinson tells the @Telegraph (£), as the Home Office & MoJ launch a ‘taskforce’ to investigate misconduct in asylum claims.https://t.co/coyzxu69R7. pic.twitter.com/KQfLMePMuh
— The Law Society (@TheLawSociety) August 8, 2023
These lawyers would be charged with “assisting unlawful immigration to the UK”.
But the Law Society, a trade association that represents solicitors, said the number of “crooked” lawyers was tiny, and the government already had powers to deal with them.
It comes as the first group of migrants boarded the Bibby Stockholm barge on Monday. Around 20 more were blocked from going on the boat by lawyers for the charity Care4Calais, who claimed the conditions were inhumane for their clients. There is no suggestion any of these lawyers are being targeted by the taskforce.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman, speaking about the taskforce, said: “Crooked immigration lawyers must be rooted out and brought to justice.
Today, the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office announced that they have launched a Professional Enablers Taskforce to crackdown on lawyers.
Responding, deputy vice president of the Law Society Richard Atkinson said: (1/5)
— The Law Society (@TheLawSociety) August 8, 2023
“While the majority of lawyers act with integrity – we know that some are lying to help illegal migrants game the system. It is not right or fair on those who play by the rules.
“The British people want us to put an end to illegal migration – I am determined to crack down on these immoral lawyers and stop the boats.”
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Ms Braverman said: “These conmen make it far harder to remove people who have no right to be here – and they must face the full force of the law.
“I want to see the worst offenders in jail and we have the laws in place to bring them to justice.
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https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/crooked-lawyers-migrants-lie-life-in-prison/
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-66437588
https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/society-cool-on-governments-enabler-taskforce/5116920.article
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-build-cases-to-prosecute-rogue-immigration-lawyers
