HC Deb 27 April 1995 vol 258 cc664-5W
Mrs. Roche

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reform the named offender procedure with regard to immigration service and police raids. [20889]

Mr. Nicholas Baker

There are no plans to change the present policy that in all cases every reasonable effort should be made to establish the names of people whom it is suspected will be found and to check them against immigration records. Visits to private addresses will continue to be authorised only where there is good reason to suspect that an identified person is there in breach of the immigration laws. However, in relation to places of work, my right hon. and learned Friend and I have decided that in future, where there is reason to believe that efforts to enlist the co-operation of the employer would undermine the effectiveness of a planned operation, visits will be authorised where there is apparently reliable information that immigration offenders will be found. Particular account will be taken of whether there is a history of the premises being used by offenders.