Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on the number of migrants that arrived in the UK by small boat that possess a criminal record either in the UK or abroad.

The Home Office conducts mandatory identity and security checks on all small boat arrivals.

As part of this process, the Home Office collects biometric data—such as facial images and fingerprints—to verify identity. These biometrics are checked against Home Office systems and other law enforcement databases, including Interpol’s wanted list. This enables us to identify individuals, assess whether they pose a risk to public safety, and determine any breaches of immigration law. These checks are essential to maintaining a secure, fair, and effective immigration system.

Under previous legislation anyone convicted of a serious crime with a conviction of 12 months or more and are considered a danger to the UK, will be denied asylum and will be considered for removal from the UK. This Government has gone further under the new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act to ensure anyone convicted of any offence under Schedule 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 will be excluded from the protection of the Refugee Convention.

Those refused protection status who cannot be removed will be subject to regular review until they can be removed at the earliest opportunity.