Jail threat for ID deceivers: New warning for defendants who fail to disclose nationality
DEFENDANTS who fail to disclose their nationalities in court could face a year in prison under a Government scheme to deport more foreign criminals.
From Monday, new legislation will require all suspects to reveal not only their name and date of birth but also which country they are from.
Alp Mehmet, of Migration Watch UK, said: “Most people in this country would think it nonsensical that anyone appearing before a magistrate should have the option of not revealing their nationality, which is part and parcel of their identity.”
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “Under these changes, courts will be required to ascertain details of defendants’ nationality when they attend at the very beginning of a case.
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Most people in this country would think it nonsensical that anyone appearing before a magistrate should have the option of not revealing their nationality
“Where an individual is identified as a foreign national offender this will allow the Home Office to begin consideration of deportation action as quickly as possible.
“We are absolutely committed to removing foreign national offenders from the UK and continue to work closely with international governments to increase the number of prisoners deported.”
However, civil liberty groups fear the move will see immigration enforcement being done by courts and could prejudice future trials.
Fizza Qureshi, of Migrants’ Rights Network, said: “We are gravely concerned that immigration enforcement is creeping into our public services.”
