UK Immigration Crackdown; POLICE ROUND UP DOZENS OF HOMELESS EASTERN EUROPEANS IN CENTRAL LONDON

Police, border and council officials removed just one homeless Eastern European out of 37 detained in central London this morning despite new 'stricter' rules on problem begging.

Out of 37 homeless people screened at Marble Arch just two were put on flights home - with one going voluntarily due to ill health - on £200 flights paid for by the tax payer.

The operation was aimed at combating the 'offensive consequences' caused by beggars harassing shopkeepers, local residents and tourists in six boroughs in the capital.

It comes a day after it was revealed the number of foreigners moving to Britain had soared dramatically, leaving the Government’s flagship pledge to slash immigration in tatters.

'New regulations introduced on 1 January mean that any EU national removed for not fulfilling the residence requirements can now be banned from re-entering the UK for 12 months, unless they can prove they have a valid reason to be here.

'This is just one of the ways we have been working across Government to protect public services and our welfare system, and address the factors that drive European immigration to Britain.'

The raids, which have resulted in 'several' arrests and anti-social behaviour orders being issues, are also taking place in other areas including Camden, Croydon, Islington, Lambeth, and Southwark.

The figures released yesterday offered clear evidence of how a new wave of EU immigration has taken advantage of Britain’s fast-recovering economy – which has produced an extra two million private sector jobs since 2010 – while the Eurozone remains mired in chaos.

There was an increase in people arriving for work to 228,000 – up from 190,000 – while 177,000 people came here as students. Ministers have no powers to stop the free movement of European workers.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister, said the Tories had ‘gone quiet’ on the target and regarded it as a ‘mistake’, while Labour said the Government’s migration target was in ‘tatters’.  

Westminster City Council cabinet member for community protection, Cllr Nickie Aiken, added: 'I want to stress that the council and its partners go to great lengths to support those in genuine need and help them with a route away from rough sleeping.

'The UK Border Agency already has the power to send home any EU nationals not exercising their EU Treaty rights, and the council will continue to work with the UKBA and Metropolitan Police to ensure that this happens. 

'But the fact remains that the current legislative powers available do not go far enough and still allow some people to play the system and exploit a three-month window. We need tighter regulations.'