Parliament to investigate asylum abuse
Wednesday, 3 February 2010 12:00 AM
By politics.co.uk
Alleged mistreatment of asylum seekers by the UK Border Agency is to be investigated by parliament after a whistleblower revealed a culture of abuse at the agency.
Claims from former Border Agency worker Louise Perrett prompted demands for an investigation from Keith Vaz, chairman of the home affairs committee.
They are also set to form the basis for a series of parliamentary questions from Ms Perrett's Lib Dem MP, Jenny Willott.
Ms Perrett explained how boys who said they had been conscripted as child soldiers in Africa were forced to lie on the floor and demonstrate how they shot at people. North Korean applicants were asked if they ate chop suey.
A stuffed gorilla was put on the desk of any officer who approved an application, as a badge of shame, according to the whistleblower.
Interviews were apparently held with tape recorders or lawyers present.
"I witnessed general hostility, rudeness and indifference towards clients," she told the Guardian.
"It was completely horrific. I highlighted my concerns to senior managers but I was just laughed at. I decided to speak out because nobody else was saying anything and major changes are needed at senior management level."
Ms Perrett said that on her very first day a manager said: "If it was up to me I'd take them all outside and shoot them."
A spokesman from the UK Border Agency said: "The UK Border Agency expects the highest levels of integrity and behaviour from all our staff. This individual has never raised these issues with us. We take all allegations of inappropriate behaviour extremely seriously."
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