Immigrants are being allowed to settle permanently in Britain on the basis of unchecked claims that they have suffered domestic abuse, a watchdog has reported.
In some cases officials are also failing to check claims that the abuse was so serious that it was referred to specialist teams dealing with high-risk cases. An inspection report said the Home Office had not brought any prosecutions against migrants who had used deception to obtain settlement status — which allows people to live, work and study, get welfare benefits and then later apply for citizenship.
David Bolt, independent chief inspector of borders and immigration, found that the Home Office had failed to remove migrants who gained settlement by deception as they were not seen as high-priority cases. He