Home Office ineptitude over British criminals abroad

4.36.39pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 10th Jan 2007

The Association of Chief Police Officers yesterday said British criminals may have been cleared to work with vulnerable people in the UK after committing crimes abroad. The Home Secretary John Reid has confirmed today that details of 540 serious criminals were left in files, and only 260 have now been entered on the Police National Computer (PNC). Police say some may have been cleared to work with the vulnerable in the UK.

Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson said "This blunder not only exposes this government's administrative incompetence, it puts the British public at greater risk from these offenders. Once again Home Office ineptitude has left the police and the public in the lurch."