Migration madness as new asylum disaster threatens 'open border' for foreign criminals

Britain's ability to deport dangerous criminals and failed asylum seekers risks being undermined by a wave of new pro-immigration judges, Robert Jenrick has warned.

The Shadow Justice Secretary criticised a recruitment drive for 70 part-time judges, claiming it could lead to more "fraudulent" asylum claims slipping through the system.

Mr Jenrick said the move "will mean even more immigration madness", adding: "The public are already sick to death of activist judges."

Confidence in the immigration tribunal system has already been shaken by a string of hugely controversial rulings that have blocked the deportation of rapists, drug dealers and violent offenders.

Mr Jenrick called for a radical shake-up of the judicial appointments process, insisting on far tougher background checks for would-be judges.

Writing in the Daily Express, he said: "Now the Judicial Appointments Commission [JAC] are recruiting a huge number of part-time judges.

"Unless the JAC gets its act together and starts conducting proper background checks, we will see an influx of judges with links to open border causes.

"That will mean even more immigration madness, with dangerous foreign criminals getting to stay in the UK.

"It will mean even more fraudulent claimants getting asylum and the right to stay in the UK. The public are already sick to death of activist judges - unless this changes confidence in the judiciary will plummet."

The former immigration minister has highlighted cases of judges involved in deportation cases also sitting on refugee charity boards.

One allowed a knife-wielding drug dealer, Christian Quadjovie, to stay after declaring he was not a threat to the public.

Quadjovie was granted a reprieve by Judge Fiona Beach, a former director at Asylum Aid, who represented migrants for free on behalf of the Bail for Immigration Detainees charity.

The decision was overturned after Government lawyers argued her judgment was "made against the weight of evidence".

Another, Melissa Canavan, blocked the deportation of a rapist after accepting his claim he would face "persecution" if he was sent back to Jamaica because he was bisexual.

The attacker, 41, was jailed for seven years after attacking a sleeping woman at a house party.

And Home Office lawyers argued there was no evidence of any relationships with men since he came to the UK in 2001.

But he was allowed to stay.

Judge Canavan also acted for Bail for Immigration Detainees and gave advice to asylum seekers whilst working for the Refugee Legal Centre.

The Judicial Appointments Commission is looking to recruit 70 new part-time judges.

This is to cover shortages in London, Birmingham, Bradford, Newcastle, Manchester, Glasgow, Belfast and Newport.

Mr Jenrick added: "Can we ever look inside the minds of judges and prove their politics influences their decision? No. But at the very least they destroy confidence in the independence of the judiciary.

"Time and again the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) has failed to vet potential immigration judges properly. And the toothless Judicial Conduct Investigations Office has been unable to investigate and sack activist judges.

"Unless the JAC gets its act together and starts conducting proper background checks, we will see an influx of judges with links to open border causes."

The Home Office plans to introduce a new fast-track process for asylum appeals to curb judges' power and speed up deportations.

And a new independent body of professional adjudicators will be set up to deal with asylum appeals instead of judges in the First-tier Tribunal.

The Home Office says it still cannot keep pace with fluctuating and growing demand.

This, Government insiders believe, would eventually replace the First Tier Tribunal for asylum and immigration cases.

There are about 51,000 asylum appeals waiting to be heard, with decisions taking a year on average.

Slashing the asylum appeals backlog is considered crucial to closing migrant hotels.

Ministers will introduce a 24-week deadline for first-tier tribunals on asylum appeals by foreign offenders and those receiving accommodation support.

They believe the current tribunal system is too slow, and prevents migrants from being swiftly deported, even under a fast-track system for safe countries.

The JAC insisted it carries out "character checks" assessing an applicant's criminal record history, tax affairs and "professional conduct".

Guidance sent to prospective judges states it "applies to all professional conduct you have been engaged in, regardless of whether it was undertaken on a paid or voluntary basis."

A Home Office review is examining how new legislation can tighten how judges interpret Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

And ministers want to hold Europe-wide discussions on how Article 3 is interpreted.

Article 8 ensures a right to private and family life, while Article 3 prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment and punishments.

These changes, sources believe, would prevent cases getting as far as the First Tier Tribunals in the future.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has also vowed to overhaul modern slavery laws amid fears "huge numbers" of migrants are lodging last minute claims to avoid deportation.

She has vowed: "Last minute attempts to frustrate a removal are intolerable, and I will fight them at every step.

"We have taken immediate steps to tackle this issue by amending policy on 17 September.

"I have also commissioned work to consider wider reforms and what more can be done to prevent misuse of the Modern Slavery system.

"I will fight to end vexatious, last-minute challenges. I will robustly defend the British public's priorities in any court. And I will do whatever it takes to secure our border."