To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were arrested in the joint operation between police and the Immigration Service at the LNG terminal in Pembrokeshire to arrest potentially illegal immigrants earlier in 2007; how many were found to be in the UK without the necessary paperwork; how many were released to attend the Swansea Immigration Office and arrived at that Office; how many were released on police bail and failed to answer that bail; and what the (a) location and (b) status is of the remainder of those taken into custody. (123878)

[holding answer 27 February 2007]: On 6 February a police-led operation was undertaken at the LNG construction site. The operation was aimed at all road users who use the road illegally. However, intelligence had suggested that some individuals maybe of interest to the Border and Immigration Agency and enforcement staff were made available on the day to support the police.

A number of individuals were found to be of interest to the Border and Immigration Agency and those individuals have been processed by Border and Immigration Agency staff and decisions made in accordance with current policy and guidelines.

The Border and Immigration Agency’s enforcement priority is to remove the most harmful people from society first and for this reason and due to detention capacity, it is not always possible to detain individuals, but consider other alternative options such as placing individuals on reporting restrictions, one of a number of initiatives that is proving to be successful in maintaining contact with individuals.

The Border and Immigration Agency announced on 7 March, their Enforcement Strategy Document, ‘Enforcing the Rules’, which outlines further measures to address public concerns and increase confidence in our immigration system.