The Police State

Banks and building societies have started immigration checks on holders of millions of current accounts under a government crackdown.

The scheme was introduced by ministers as part of attempts to create a “hostile environment” for those staying in the UK unlawfully. It requires banks and building societies to check the immigration status of all current account holders against details of known illegal migrants held by authorities.

Where an illegal migrant is found to be operating an account, this will be flagged to the Home Office. Officials will instruct the bank or building society on what action to take, which could include shutting the account.

 Chai Patel, legal policy director of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, claimed “What is shocking about this system is that people’s bank accounts, which they rely on for their jobs, their homes and every aspect of life, can be closed with no clear means of redress or compensation in case of errors,” he said, adding: “this places people affected at even greater risk of exploitation and of being driven into a cash-only economy at the mercy of unscrupulous employers and landlords.”