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Leaked Cabinet memo warns of 'Romanian crime explosion'
Last updated at 11:22am on 01.11.06
Trouble ahead: Home Secretary John Reid has tried to reassure the public that the influx of Romanians and Bulgarians will be controlled
Ministers have been warned of a potential crime explosion when Romania and Bulgaria join the EU next year, it was reported today.
A secret Cabinet memo warned of increases in street violence, ATM theft, sex trafficking and fraud, according to reports.
The document reportedly estimates that Romanian gangs are behind "80-85 per cent" of cash machine crime in the UK.
According to the Sun newspaper the memo comments: "There is concern that free movement will encourage people from Bulgaria and Romania to come to the UK, some of whom may be drawn towards organised criminal activities already well established in the UK."
The number of migrants from the two ex-Soviet Bloc states allowed to work in Britain is set to be capped at less than 23,000 a year after the EU's January 1 expansion.
A Home Office spokesman declined to comment on the leak but added: "Tackling the menace of organised crime is a top priority for the Government.
"The establishment of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) earlier this year signals our determination to make the UK one of the toughest places in the world to operate."
He highlighted comments by Home Secretary John Reid to the Police Superintendents conference last month in which he said that law enforcement agencies were already working with the governments of the two countries on the issue.
"We need to consider very carefully all the implications of the accession of new states and ensure that we have all necessary safeguards in place right down to local borough level to reassure the public that this movement will be managed fairly and competently," Mr Reid told the conference.
"I know that law enforcement agencies have already been working closely with the Romanian and Bulgarian governments to identify the new challenges."
The spokesman added: "To this end a Home Office-led task force incorporating the police, Soca and other relevant agencies has already begun working on measures to identify and tackle the full range of law enforcement issues that may arise."
Reader views (8)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
This whole situation is totally absurd. There will be no restriction on Romanians and Bulgarians coming here, but "only" 23,000 will be allowed to work.
1. How could that quota possibly be enforced?
2. In the unlikely event that it could be, how does the Government envisage that the remainder maintain themselves? I think we all know what will happen. They will either disappear into the black labour market - adding to our unemployment - or work with/for the already very well established organised crime networks.
It's high time we took a stance against Brussells.
- Roger Matthews, Rickmansworth, UK
The rapid increase in crimes with the arrival of Bulgarians and Romanians will not be controlled. It's all political empty talk. These present concerns were raised during the debate of whether or not Britain should join the EU.
Already, there is more than enough crime for the police to tackle.
- Kate Chukwu, London
Criminals should be automatically barred from entering the country.
- Mark W, London
Simple.
Give preferential work visas to Romanian policemen. I bet they don't sit around attending awareness courses all day long.
- Paul Ebhart, Guildford
We don't even have enough spaces in our prison system for the criminals we already have, how on earth can we accommodate the influx of criminals from other countries? I can see chaos and mayhem ahead, with rich people hiring their own security and the rest of society being left to our own devices.
- Kuldip, London
You can guarantee the answer is more tax...
- Andy, London
It is an unpalatable truth that many people coming to the UK view this country as little more than a soft opportunity to make large amounts of money through crime. When there is no cohesive culture there is no interest in making society work, and anarchy and avarice result.
- John Deal, West Norwood
Our police force is already stretched to the absolute limit and now they have to spend even more money dealing with other country's criminals that are coming here to exploit our soft laws. Guess who'll be paying for this one.
- Isabel, Woking, England
