![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/suella-braverman-to-target-crooked-immigration-lawyers/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/130685597_842c397b135e662df988295c37e822ca9e1e9df6.jpg&description=Image source, PA Media Image caption, Home Secretary Suella Braverman says a minority of lawyers are helping illegal migrants game the system It comes after reports some firms are offering to submit false asylum claims for a fee. A new taskforce, which has been carrying out preliminary work for a few months, has officially been launched. The Home Office said it would help build stronger evidence bases to support prosecutions. But the Law Society said the Home Office was focusing on "a tiny minority of lawyers" rather than the "significant backlogs in asylum claims". The organisation, which represents solicitors in England and Wales, said the necessary powers were already in place to deal with immigration advisers engaged in misconduct. David McNeill, from the Law Society, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the taskforce has existed for months and the announcement "looks like a bit of lawyer-bashing". Labour's shadow justice secretary Steve Reed said the announcement was "too little too late" and the "buck stops" with the Conservatives, accusing them of having "sat idly by for 13 years while illegal migration has spun out of control". The Home Office said the Professional Enablers Taskforce, for which there is no new funding, brought together regulatory bodies, law enforcement teams and other government departments. It said there had already been referrals to the police where criminal activity was suspected. The department gave the example of a case where an immigration firm was linked to one of the most wanted human traffickers, which had now been referred to police. Last week the legal watchdog, the Solicitors Regulation Authority, suspended three legal firms who were caught offering to submit fake asylum claims. It came after an investigation by the Daily Mail alleged some companies agreed to help an undercover reporter posing as an economic migrant submit a false application, using a fabricated backstory of trafficking or torture, in exchange for thousands of pou){kind=link}
Home Secretary Suella Braverman has vowed to step up efforts to bring “crooked” immigration lawyers to justice.
It comes after reports some firms are offering to submit false asylum claims for a fee.
A new taskforce, which has been carrying out preliminary work for a few months, has officially been launched.
The Home Office said it would help build stronger evidence bases to support prosecutions.
But the Law Society said the Home Office was focusing on “a tiny minority of lawyers” rather than the “significant backlogs in asylum claims”.