A complete waste of taxpayers’ money

IT often surprises me as to the number of coincidences that seem to occur regarding my weekly scribble.

I regularly seem to broach a subject only to find it making some form of national headline by the time of Thursdays EW publication. This week was no exception.

I was preparing a piece on border immigration control and, lo and behold, suddenly the subject was on everyone’s lips.

This was mainly of course due to Mr Brodie Clark, the UK’s border control director, who was suspended last week for inexplicably relaxing a number of major border controls (don’t ask!)

However, what had initially caught my interest was the TV reality show that features this particular branch of the British civil service. I had watched, suitably impressed, as the team of around a half dozen, extremely serious and professional men and women, carefully planned a raid on a bingo hall, thought to be employing illegal immigrants. With the utmost precision and planning, the raid was subsequently carried out – the result of which led to the arrest of no less than seven illegals who were dutifully cautioned and trundled off to the nick. So far so good.

The next raid involved a much larger squad, setting out to make a similar raid on a large building site, also thought to be using illegal labour. This operation was also a resounding success, netting no less than 17 men being employed without visas or work permits. Great stuff. At least something is being done in the name of sanity I mused. Wrong! As the programme ended, the voice of the narrator came over the rolling credits. ‘As a result of these arrests’ it informed us. ‘The seven people at the bingo hall were formally cautioned and instructed to report back at a later date. All subsequently disappeared and have so far not been re- apprehended.’ As I tried to take this in, the voice went on. ‘Of the 17 arrested at the building site, all were cautioned and ordered to reappear at the police station later. Sixteen of the men later absconded and are still at large!’ You couldn’t make it up could you? What an utter and complete waste of time and taxpayers money.

Bearing in mind these exercises go on day in and day out it must be costing millions. And how soul-destroying to these undoubtedly dedicated and professional band of men and women who plan and carry out these raids? It’s all a con isn’t it? No doubt some MP will insult our intelligence by spouting in the House of the ‘high rate of successes in the apprehension of illegals. I wonder how many will stand up and admit that 99% of them were subsequently allowed to do a runner? Not a lot, I’ll be bound.

Keep the faith.

Love Leapy.   leapylee2002@gmail.com