Yvette Cooper MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to the report by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, ‘An Inspection of Overstayers’, said:

“This report reveals yet another border control failure from Theresa May to add to the catalogue of chaos at the Home Office.

“Theresa May promised to tackle overstaying, but she has completely failed. She signed an expensive contract and it hasn’t had any impact at all. Less than one percent of the 120,000 cases sent to Capita have been removed as a result of the company’s actions. 

“She’s also completely failed to introduce entrance and exit checks at the border so she has no idea who is entering or leaving or who has overstayed in the first place. 

“And she has tried once again to bury this report, releasing it on the last full day of Parliament after sitting on it for months, even after the Chief Inspector warned that the Home Secretary’s delays and decisions on the timing of his reports was undermining his independence.

“This is part of a disgraceful catalogue of chaos from Theresa May over border control - including giving British citizenships to killers and criminals, failing to deport foreign criminals, a ‘no ifs, no buts' net migration target in tatters, and an attempt to deceive Parliament over the European Arrest Warrant. 

“Why won’t she conduct a full review of the criminals given citizenship, and follow Labour plans to introduce 1,000 additional enforcement staff, proper entry and exit checks?

“Too often, Theresa May fails in her responsibilities on border control, then runs and hides rather than sorting the problems out.”

ENDS