Two arrests made after asylum seekers told to ‘pretend to be gay’
Arrests have been made after an undercover investigation (stock image via Getty Images)
Two people have been arrested after an undercover investigation found some immigration advisers were allegedly telling asylum seekers to pretend to be gay.
The investigation, by BBC News, found that migrants with expiring visas were allegedly told how to get fake evidence, such as supporting letters or photographs, to go with their asylum claims.
It included footage secretly filmed at an event for LGBT asylum seekers, at which many of the people told the reporter they were not gay.
Now, as per BBC News, a woman in her 40s was arrested on suspicion of providing an immigration service contrary to section 91 of the Immigration and Asylum Act. A man in his early 20s has also been arrested, on suspicion of fraud.
The arrests came after a Home Office investigation, which resulted in raids in east London.
Mike Tapp, Immigration Minister, said: “If lawyers, or so-called lawyers, and legal advisers are out there providing this dodgy advice, we’re coming after that. And as you’ve seen today, we’ll make those arrests.”
He added: “Our asylum system is there for people who are genuinely fleeing persecution and war and I’m really proud of that. But people that are trying to abuse it will not be accepted.”
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