ALMOST 400,000 legal migrants have moved to Britain since 2021 without criminal record checks, figures show.
Campaigners last night demanded tighter vetting.
PAWhile visa applicants have to state if they have a criminal record, there is concern that many lie on their forms[/caption]
AlamyIain Duncan Smith, above, and Carolyn Harris warned that criminals exploit weaknesses in UK visa and employment systems[/caption]
Despite a spike in offences committed by foreign nationals, only those coming here to work in health or education need to show criminal record certificates.
Of the 504,141 workers given visas between January 2021 and March this year, 237,426 did not undergo the checks, according to research by the Centre for Migration Control.
They estimate 154,000 family members came too — bringing the total without criminal record certificates to more than 391,000.
While visa applicants have to state if they have a criminal record, there is concern that many lie on their forms.
More than 10,000 foreign national offenders are currently in UK jails taking up vital space.
Rob Bates, from the Centre of Migration Control, said: “We urgently need to change the rules to ensure no migrant enters the UK with a criminal background.”
Meanwhile, a separate report estimates up to £340million is lost every five-year Parliamentary session due to modern slavery.
The Centre for Social Justice said up to 4,500 hand carwashes could be using forced labour.
MPs Sir Iain Duncan Smith and Carolyn Harris said: “By infiltrating or masquerading as legitimate businesses and taking advantage of weaknesses in our visa and employment systems, criminals have put not just their victims but the whole of our society at risk.”
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