Britain’s Home Office to investigate visa-for-sex claims

LONDON – Britain’s interior ministry has launched an investigation into a report that some immigration officers gave favourable treatment to attractive and compliant women, the Sun newspaper reported yesterday.

The tabloid paper’s report was based on the account of a former immigration officer, who worked at the headquarters in the London suburb of Croydon. Anthony Pamnani, 23, said he had left the service four years ago disgusted at the behaviour of some colleagues.He charged that the cases of women considered attractive were given priority treatment while others were pushed down the queue.”One girl came in and told us an admin officer had visited her flat and they had slept together.She got indefinite leave to stay,” he told the paper.Brazilian women received visas for longer stays than their male companions, without valid reason, he added.According to Pamnani, basic security controls were often sidestepped.”In many cases” the passports of immigration-hopefuls were only examined to ensure their holders were not convicts or sought by their home authorities.”It was lazy because they only had to walk a few yards and swipe it through a computer reader,” commented Pamnani.He said he had quit his job when an order was given to favour European emigres ahead of those from the Indian sub-continent.”I lost what remaining respect I had for the job,” he said.Home Office Minister for immigration Tony McNulty promised the claims would be looked at.”These are serious allegations and I will ensure that they are fully investigated,” he was reported by the paper as saying.”Until the outcome of that investigation is known, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further but clearly I will not condone this type of behaviour amongst staff.”- Nampa-AFPAnthony Pamnani, 23, said he had left the service four years ago disgusted at the behaviour of some colleagues.He charged that the cases of women considered attractive were given priority treatment while others were pushed down the queue.”One girl came in and told us an admin officer had visited her flat and they had slept together.She got indefinite leave to stay,” he told the paper.Brazilian women received visas for longer stays than their male companions, without valid reason, he added.According to Pamnani, basic security controls were often sidestepped.”In many cases” the passports of immigration-hopefuls were only examined to ensure their holders were not convicts or sought by their home authorities.”It was lazy because they only had to walk a few yards and swipe it through a computer reader,” commented Pamnani.He said he had quit his job when an order was given to favour European emigres ahead of those from the Indian sub-continent.”I lost what remaining respect I had for the job,” he said.Home Office Minister for immigration Tony McNulty promised the claims would be looked at.”These are serious allegations and I will ensure that they are fully investigated,” he was reported by the paper as saying.”Until the outcome of that investigation is known, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further but clearly I will not condone this type of behaviour amongst staff.”- Nampa-AFP