Vans emblazoned with the message “go home or face arrest” are to be driven around London as a warning to illegal immigrants as part of a Home Office crackdown.
In the pilot scheme two vehicles display the number of illegal immigrants that have recently been arrested in the area, along with a number the they can text to arrange their return.
The vans will be driven around Hounslow, Barking & Dagenham, Ealing, Barnet, Brent and Redbridge, while leaflets and posters highlighting the advantages of returning home voluntarily will be circulated in each area.
Immigration minister Mark Harper said: “We are making it more difficult for people to live and work in the UK illegally.
“Every single day our enforcement officers are arresting, detaining and removing people with no right to be in the UK. But there is an alternative to being led away in handcuffs.
“Help and advice can be provided to those who cooperate and return home voluntarily.
“This pilot is just another part of the reforms of the immigration system that have cut out abuse and seen net migration drop to its lowest levels in nearly a decade.
“The Immigration Bill being introduced later this year will build on this work by restricting illegal migrants’ access to benefits and services.”
The Home Office said voluntary returns are the most cost-effective way of removing illegal immigrants and save the taxpayer money.
The pilot builds on the Government’s current work on voluntary returns, which saw more than 28,000 voluntary departures last year.
It follows the launch of three consultations earlier this month that are looking to regulate illegal migrant access to public services and the right to live and work in the UK.
The proposals are part of the new Immigration Bill and include regulating temporary migrants’ access to the NHS, requiring landlords to check the immigration status of tenants and tougher civil penalties for rogue employers that continue to exploit illegal immigrants.