HC Deb 26 March 1970 vol 798 cc481-2W
54. Sir G. Nabarro

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, having regard to convictions in the courts last week, whether he will increase security against illegal smuggled entry of Pakistanis into Great Britain; and, following prosecutions in Belgium of a person known as Harry the Greek for illegally smuggling 2,000 Pakistanis into Great Britain via West Germany and Belgium, mostly entering the Metropolitan Police area, what steps he is taking to improve co-operation between the Metropolitan Police and Interpol to prevent further development of this illicit traffic.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

My information is that the person named was convicted in the Belgian courts yesterday of smuggling 29 persons into Belgium. Chief officers of police in this country act to prevent clandestine immigration in collaboration with various agencies here and abroad, including foreign police forces. With the assistance of Interpol, they have achieved considerable success, and my right hon. Friend does not think that further steps on his part are called for at this stage.

55. Sir G. Nabarro

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions, and involving what nationalities, he has launched for illicit immigration into the United Kingdom, during the period since 1st January, 1968; what were the principal countries of origin; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

My right hon. Friend does not launch prosecutions.

Powers to enable those concerned with illegal immigration to be prosecuted were introduced by the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1968, with effect from 9th March, 1968. Since then there have been criminal proceedings in seven cases, involving some 70 immigrants from India and Pakistan. Those responsible for organising these ventures, mainly of British or Indian origin but including two United States Servicemen, have on conviction received sentences ranging up to seven years' imprisonment. The immigrants have generally been repatriated as promptly as possible, but in some cases have been sentenced to imprisonment and recommended for deportation.