Home Office urged to ‘get a grip’ of its immigration responsibilities after chief inspector admits it is outsourcing ‘on the cheap’

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Home Office has been urged to “get a grip” of its departmental responsibilities after its own chief inspector of borders said it was outsourcing immigration operations “on the cheap”. He added: “These grave problems in our immigration system undermine the rule of law, while also damaging our country’s reputation for justice and fairness.” Paul Blomfield, MP for Sheffield Central, who has asked the National Audit Office to investigate the Home Office’s contract with Sopra Steria, urged ministers to work with the chief inspector to “get a grip on these core departmental responsibilities”. He added: “David Bolt has confirmed the dangers of the Home Office’s approach to outsourcing immigration services – it’s a case of ‘out of sight, out of mind’ and doing it ‘on the cheap’. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Speaking at a parliamentary event organised by the APPG for visas and immigration last week, Mr Bolt said also questioned whether the Home Office had “the capacity to do anything about” the issues because it was “short of resource generally, meaning everything is under pressure” – likening the situation to “changing a tyre as you’re driving down the motorway”.