Wednesday, July 26 2006 10:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: London, July 26 (IANS) Embarrassed over recent events that showed that the British Home Office is "not fit for purpose", Home Secretary John Reid has announced a series of measures to control rising levels of immigration into Britain.

Reid took over as home secretary from Charles Clarke amidst several unsavoury revelations that prompted him to remark that the Home Office is "not fit for purpose". His promised measures to tighten immigration into Britain were announced Tuesday.

Among the embarrassing events Reid faced as he assumed office were: the non-deportation of foreign prisoners in British jails, a top official admitting that he had no idea how many illegal aliens were in Britain, officials demanding sex in exchange of visas, and five illegal migrants working in - of all places - the Immigration and Nationality Directorate.

As part of the measures announced Tuesday, everyone travelling to and from Britain will be counted, although the system won't be in place until 2014. The measures include plans for the automatic deportation of foreign prisoners.

The amount spent on enforcing immigration rules will be doubled by 2009-10 while travellers from the highest risk countries will require biometric identity papers by 2008. Embarkation controls, which were partially lifted under the Conservatives in 1994, before being removed altogether when Labour came to office, will be reinstated by 2014.

Outlining the measures in the House of Commons, Reid admitted, "there is no overnight solution. We will extend exit controls in stages based on risk, identify who overstays and count everyone in and out, while avoiding delays to travellers, by 2014."

The new plan also includes:

* a revamped Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) with tougher powers and to be run at arm's length from the Home Office;

* uniformed border-control officers;

* a doubling of the budget for immigration control by 2010;

* forcing foreigners from high-risk countries to have biometric identity cards by 2008;

* requiring all non-European nationals to have identity numbers before they can travel to the UK;

* introducing tougher penalties for those employing illegal immigrants, including seizing assets;

* requiring evidence of nationality during contact with the criminal justice system;

* the appointment of a new special envoy to help win agreement with the EU and other countries on the return and re-documentation of immigration offenders, and

* the appointment of Stuart Hyde, an assistant chief constable with the West Midlands Police, as senior director for enforcement at the IND.

Shadow home secretary David Davis described the problems linked to immigration as the result of a "policy failure so huge it has overwhelmed the entire system". He criticised the plan for uniformed border officers as a "ludicrous piece of window dressing".

Davis said: "What is necessary is a properly constituted and powerful border-control police making use of all possible manpower to maximum effect to protect our borders and with it public safety."

The Liberal Democrats also criticised the delay in tackling the problems and questioned whether Reid's proposals would provide a solution. The party's home affairs spokesman, Nick Clegg, told newsmen: "Its beggars belief that the government has taken nearly 10 years to sort out the administrative mess of our immigration system.

"We need a comprehensive approach to reform, not merely cosmetic changes."