Romanians living in UK carry out 1,000 crimes in six months

As recent members of the EU, Romanians have had free access to Britain only since January 1.

Yet in the first six months of this year, police say, they were responsible for 1,080 offences.

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During the same period in 2006, only 135 such crimes were recorded.

In an ironic twist Romanian authorities say crime there is dropping, fuelling suspicions that some offenders may have moved here.

The figures, obtained by More4 News under Freedom of Information laws, will raise concerns that criminals are exploiting their newfound freedom.

A leaked Home Office memo, written last year, revealed anxiety in the Government that known offenders would travel to Britain.

Superintendent Bernie Gravett, of the Metropolitan Police, said 'organised' criminal gangs were now operating in the UK, particularly in London.

Police are concerned they are using under-tens - who are too young to be prosecuted - to commit offences such as theft.

Officers believe that most of the money generated by the gangs is being sent back to Romania.

Stan Bitlan, head of the police force in Ialomita County, Romania, said: "Yes there is a connection between what is happening here and the UK.

"What they are doing in the UK appears here in Romania in the form of luxury cars and houses."

He added that money from crime committed in Britain was being transferred to bank accounts in Romania.

Police wanted to freeze these accounts or seize goods but could not without hard evidence proving a link to offences here.

Meanwhile, the migration appears to be having benefits in Romania.

Vasile Save, the mayor of Tandarei - a town that has seen 800 inhabitants leave in the first six months of this year - admits there is less crime in the area

He said: "I would say it's pretty quiet now in terms of public order in the community."

Earlier this year, it emerged police had been issued with a translation guide to help them tackle rising crime among Romanian immigrants.

The idea is that they can question suspected thieves and shoplifters in their own language.

It features basic phrases to use on suspects.

They include the Romanian version of "Can I have a word with you?" (Pot sa vorbesc cu tine?) and "Can I ask what you are doing in this area?" (Pot sa intreb ce faceti in zona aceasta?).

Under Government restrictions, Romanians need a permit to work in low-skilled jobs in the UK but are free to travel here as they wish.

The leaked Home Office memo said an estimated 45,000 potential criminals from Romania and Bulgaria - which also joined in January this year - would travel to Britain following EU expansion.

Written by then junior Home Office minister Joan Ryan, it said the "undesirables" had been identified by immigration officials as having links to crime, immigration offences and passport fraud.

All were included on a confidential "warnings index" circulatedto Whitehall officials. But, despite being known to the authorities, the memo revealed the difficulties in trying to keep them out.

Previously, they could be identified and barred from entering Britain through the checks required to obtain a visa.

As EU citizens, however, the only requirement is to produce a valid passport on entry - making them harder to spot.

A Home Office spokesman yesterday said: "The vast majority of people who come to the UK willingly abide by this country's laws.

"However, we will not accommodate those that abuse our hospitality by becoming involved in crime.

"We have made it perfectly clear that we will seek to deport foreign nationals who have committed a serious crime in the UK."

j.slack@dailymail.co.uk