Data sharing with the financial sector will begin today as the
government cracks down on illegal migrants accessing banking
services.
Making it more difficult for unlawful migrants to access
financial services is an important tool to help deter illegal
migration by preventing people from working illegally and
profiting from services they are not entitled to.
Having access to a current account can assist those here
unlawfully in obtaining work illegally and securing credit. It
can help those without permission to be in the UK gain a foothold
in society, regardless of their immigration status.
Identifying an unlawful migrant’s current account may also
provide evidence of illegal working, helping identify and stamp
this out.
The Prime Minister initially announced the plans
to restart data sharing to the House of Commons as part of the
government’s approach to tackling illegal working and
immigration.
Immigration Minister said:
Access to key banking services, including current accounts, is
crucial in aiding those here unlawfully to gain a foothold in
British society.
As the Prime Minister has set out, we are committed to going
further and faster to prevent the abuse of our laws and borders.
Illegal working causes untold harm to our communities, cheating
honest workers of employment and defrauding the public purse.
Only those known to be here unlawfully or those who have
absconded from immigrational control will have their details
shared, with robust safeguards in place to prevent wrongful
account closures.
The new measures do not impose any requirements on banks to check
customer’s documents. Instead, the Home Office will share details
of disqualified persons via an anti-fraud organisation, and banks
and building societies will then check their personal current
account holders against those details.
Anyone with outstanding immigration applications or appeals will
not be affected, nor will those who have been granted leave to be
in the UK, including refugees. In addition, the Home Office
retains discretion over the criteria for disqualification and
sharing data.
Bank account closures will only occur where the Home Office has
made a further check to ensure that the customer is still in the
UK without permission to stay.
Where the bank or building society has refused to open an
account, or closed an existing account, the customer will be
notified of the reasons, how to contact the Home Office if they
believe a mistake has been made, and the next steps they should
take.
