Passport control on Tube
By Luke David, Evening Standard
9 August 2004

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/a...source=Evening

Immigration officers are questioning Tube travellers because they sound
"foreign", the Evening Standard has learned.

Thousands of passengers are being stopped in a secret operation using
tactics the police are specifically forbidden from deploying. Immigration
officers are stopping anyone they consider to look or sound foreign and
asking them to produce their papers to prove their right to British
residence.

Their aim is uncover illegal immigrants and failed asylum seekers. The
discovery that these tactics are being used prompted a political row today.
The Liberal Democrats are set to write to the Home Secretary demanding an
explanation for a scheme civilrights groups dubbed "Stalinist".

The existence of the spot-check operation has been kept secret by the Home
Office but an Evening Standard investigation discovered that teams of
immigration officers have been carrying out the procedures since May 2003.

It is part of a wider programme in which 1,000 suspected illegal immigrants
have been detained.

During one operation witnessed by the Evening Standard, a series of people
getting off Tube trains were stopped by immigration officers dressed in body
armour and carrying handcuffs.

The officer in charge said people were picked out for questioning if they
sounded foreign.

Immigration officer Emma Cromack said: "If you hear someone speaking a
language that's not European we approach them and ask 'do you mind if I ask
you what nationality you are?'

SNIP rest of story - which surprisingly makes no reference to the fact that
the London is full of legitimate tourists, many of whom use the UndergrounD
frequently and extensively

Regards,

- Alan (in Brussels - mind the spamtrap)