Britain has turned away only TEN EU criminals since 2004

Last year, the number turned away by border guards because of a criminal past was only two.

This is despite the huge influx of citizens from former communist states such as Poland, who police say are straining resources.

Thousands of convicts have been able to enter because the Government was unaware of their background or was bound by EU regulations. The news led to demands for a review of the rules last night.

There are 20 million visitors from the EU every year. If 1 per cent had criminal convictions, it would be equal to 200,000 people with suspect backgrounds being waived through border controls.

Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch UK, said: "This is the clearest possible evidence that free movement of people in Europe also means the free movement of criminals."

The figures apply to the entire EU but will cause most concern in relation to Eastern Europeans - who have been visiting in record numbers since gaining free movement rights in 2004.

Poles commit more crime in London than any other nationality except Britons.

Migrants from outside the EU need a visa to enter the UK and can be turned

away if they have a criminal conviction. Officials have advance warning of new arrivals and can check for any convictions while processing their application.

But EU citizens with a valid passport can travel to Britain without prior warning.

Even in cases where officials are aware of serious convictions, criminals cannot automatically be turned away.

EU regulations say they can be barred to maintain public security. But they add: "Convictions in themselves do not consticountrytute grounds for taking such measures."

In reality, they allow all but the very worst criminals free access to the UK.

Immigrants who were not prevented from entering Britain included sex attacker Josef Kurek, jailed for life in 2005 after breaking into the home of a 25-year-old woman in Swansea and raping her. He had just served nine years for rape in Poland, following four years for attempted rape.

The Tories, who uncovered the figures, pledged to establish a border force to keep out people who pose a risk to the

Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said: "Gordon Brown talks tough about throwing out foreign nationals who commit crimes in the UK. These figures show that in the last three years the Government have stopped just ten entering."

Alan Gordon, of the Police Federation, said: "The sensible thing would be to carry out a criminal records check on everybody wanting to settle in Britain and, if they are unsuitable, they should be refused.

"That would require a major review of EU legislation. But if that is needed, the Government should be looking at it."

No figures are kept for the number of convicted EU criminals living here but the total is certain to be tens of thousands.

In London, where one in five crimes is committed by a foreigner, EU states make up six of the top 12 nationalities on the list of nations with the most offenders.

Many will have already offended in their homeland, as fewer than half of offences are committed by first-time criminals.

The regime forced upon Britain by the EU is in contrast to that in the U.S., where even an arrest is grounds for refusal of a visa and a criminal conviction can lead to a lifetime ban.

The Home Office said: "EU nationals are entitled to move freely throughout the EU, except where their exclusion is justified on the grounds of public policy, public security or public health. EU nationals are checked against the immigration database on a risk assessed basis."