Go Home vans....

[Workingman]

These vans were driven round London informing illegal immigrants that they could, and probably would, be arrested. They offered free advice and travel documents to those who called in, phoned or texted.

I have never been an illegal immigrant or bogus asylum seeker, but I can imagine it being a living hell for some. Sleeping rough, hot bedding, earning a pittance in the black economy and constantly waiting for a tap on the should from the authorities must be soul destroying, so the offer of free advice and a way out without being branded a criminal could be a Godsend. A good idea?

No: Not if you are from the bleeding heart brigades. The message is racist, obviously, irresponsible and offensive, among other things. Complaints have been made to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and it has launched an urgent inquiry into the Home Office's vans.

I am sorry, but if I was Teresa May I would tell the ASA to go stick one up themselves. The vans are a targeted public information service in a similar way that flood warnings, inoculation advice or the terrorist threat level are.

It is time to stop tip-toeing round this problem and for action to be taken.

[KateLMead]

60 bleeding hearts have protested. there are thousands here... In my opinion the van is a good idea.. They can leave with dignity and hopefully be fingerprinted lest they should try and return. I feel truly sorry for the homeless, then I acknowledge our own traumatised ex military who are sleeping rough with no help whatsoever. Odd we have to get a massive number of written protests before any action can be taken on our causes can be taken up.. those supporting immigrants. 60 !!

[Workingman]

I bet many of those 60 will be from the likes of Liberty, Amnesty and the local councils. Part of the reason for their existence is to be "offended on behalf of ......"

[cromwell]

I bet many of those 60 will be from the likes of Liberty, Amnesty and the local councils. Part of the reason for their existence is to be "offended on behalf of ......"

Oh yes!
I'm not against the "go home" vans but I am a bit cynical. It smacks of "look at us, we are doing something", when the best idea would be to put more effort into keeping the borders secure.

[KateLMead]

I agree. But let us not forget that the floodgates were opened wide by Labour Blair and his cohorts when they were in power. Easy to say the plan is failing.. The plan needs to be given time with a bit more authority to back it.. Deporting criminals when they get out of Jail will be a good start.

[TheOstrich]

Indeed, and look at the furore today over travellers. Pickles has reminded local councils of the guidelines enabling them to act against illegal sites, and there is immediately a backlash from the bleeding-hearts oppressed-minorities brigade.

Three times in the 13 years we've lived here, travellers have set up encampments within a mile of us on public land. The mess they eventually left behind was outrageous. I've no time for the bleeding hearts brigade.

[KateLMead]

The trouble is due to those disgraceful Uman Rites these individuals will carry on parking wherever they wish..
Uman Rites of the villagers are no longer considered. This is the state the country has sunk too.. Steal a valuable caravan, sell it (supposedly) the owner traces it.. Can they gat is back can they hell. Their Uman Rites would be usurped if it was forcefully returned to the rightful owners.

[Workingman]

There was a man on Sky news from the Gypsy Council. He appeared to have a problem understanding the term "illegal campsite", and the interviewer didn't push him too hard on it. He didn't, however, have a problem with his demands for more legal ones to be provided by local council tax payers.

As for the vans, the BBC is doing its level best to rubbish the scheme, but had to admit that the government had received a lot of support from the public. It must hurt to tell the truth.

[Kaz]

Oh Frank I so agree with you!! I am having a 'full and frank discussion' with some eejit from Friends of the Earth, sharing the post from Liberty, on this very issue on Facebook at the moment, after they put up a post about this calling it a racist policy! Quite what it has to do with FoE I do not know!!

[Suff]

Kaz, you should offer them a free subscription to FotB. So they can talk out of it more easily....

Idiots. They live in lala land and don't care what it does to the average person in the UK or even how horrific the life can be for illegal immigrants.

I have a hard time being civil to them at most times. Blathering on about how we are polluting the earth and need to worry about the planet and it's ecosystem. Java time, the planet is getting set to wipe us off the face of it. Stop worrying about the planet, polar bears and all the other species dying right now. The message is clear. Stop what you are doing or the planet will redress the balance. i.e. it will kill most of us off.

FoE might want to think about how friendly that is....