Ministers will announce today that scam immigration lawyers will have their dirty money seized as the Government beefs up powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act
Fake immigration lawyers will be stripped of their dirty money under a new clampdown, ministers will announce today.
Cash seized from rogue advisers posing as lawyers will be used for policing the UK’s borders, plans seen by The Mirror reveal. The Proceeds of Crime Act will be beefed up to seize back millions from sham legal experts.
The Home Office says the move will see money reinvested to fight the trafficking networks it once funded. It follows a string of cases including a bogus adviser who raked in more than £500,000 and a group of three who pocketed more than £3million by targeting victims online.
The crooks charged thousands of pounds for advice on visa applications and challenging deportations. Security Minister Dan Jarvis said: “Rogue immigration advisers exploiting our system will pay the price.
“By backing the Immigration Advice Authority with tough new powers, we’re stripping criminals of their dirty money and using it to strengthen our borders and keep our streets safe.”
The Home Office proposals – expected to be introduced following a consultation which runs to the end of the year – will give the Immigration Advice Authority greater powers to recover cash.
The IAA will be able to trace and freeze assets, claw back cash and bring crooks to justice without relying on police support.
It comes on top of new powers under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which will see people posing as immigration lawyers face fines of up to £15,000.
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