UK delegation led by rising polician & Minister met DGP of Punjab
for Tackling Illegal immigration

CHANDIGARH, FEBRUARY 5, 2008.
NRIpress

A high powered delegation of the United Kingdom led by Mr. Liam Byrne, Minister of State, Home Office, United Kingdom including Mr. Creon Butler, Deputy High Commissioner, Ms. Judith McGregor, Director/Migration, Foreign Office and other officials of the British High Commission and the UK Home office today called on Sh. N.P.S. Aulakh, Director General of Police, Punjab in his office.

During the meeting Sh. Shashi Kant, Additional Director General/Intelligence, Sh. Gaurav Yadav, DIG/Intelligence and Sh. H.S. Mann, AIG/Intelligence were also present.

The visiting delegation discussed the feasibility of video conferencing link between London and the Punjab police headquarters for fast-tracking verification of national status of illegal immigrants with the Punjab police chief.

The Minister expressed a keen desire for resumption of exchange visits of police officials of India and UK and requested for assistance from the Punjab police regarding illegal immigration into the UK. Sh.

Aulakh apprised the delegation of the efforts being made by the Punjab police to check illegal immigration and informed about the proposed Punjab Human Trafficking Act. The DGP raised the issue of NRIs coming to India, marrying Indian girls and then deserting them and sought the cooperation of the Government of United Kingdom in taking legal action against such persons.

The meeting ended with both sides expressing satisfaction with the level of mutual cooperation and agreeing to maintain to tempo in new areas as well.

• UK Immigration Minister Liam Byrne, MP (Labour) Birmingham, Hodge Hill,
• He is one of the government's fastest rising stars - with one of the most high profile and politically sensitive portfolios.
  The 37-year-old who has an MBA from Harvard and previously ran his own IT firm, became immigration minister in May 2006.