Suspected fraudster, 61, ‘used disguises to take citizenship check for different individuals’ | UK | News | EUROtoday

A 61-year-old girl has been arrested for allegedly utilizing a wide range of wigs and disguises to sit down Life within the UK exams on behalf of others.

Immigration enforcement officers detained the girl at a property in Enfield on Monday, suspecting her of fraudulently finishing the citizenship exams for at the very least 14 people, each women and men.

She is accused of taking the exams at numerous check centres throughout the UK, altering ID paperwork and utilizing disguises to keep away from detection.

Officers reported seizing “several false documents and a collection of wigs,” believed to have been used within the fraudulent operation, in response to the Home Office.

Inspector Phillip Parr from Immigration Enforcement Criminal and Financial Investigation mentioned his staff had efficiently “put a stop to this dangerous operation”.

He added: “This individual is suspected of carrying out a premeditated plan, carefully selecting disguises and test centres across the country to avoid detection by authorities.”

The girl, alleged to have carried out the fraudulent exams between June 2022 and August 2023, stays in custody because the investigation continues.

The Life within the UK Test is a compulsory evaluation for people looking for indefinite go away to stay or British citizenship. Introduced in 2005 as a part of the British authorities’s efforts to make sure integration, the check examines candidates’ information of British historical past, values, traditions, and societal norms.

It consists of 24 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official handbook, overlaying subjects such because the UK’s political system, key historic occasions, and cultural practices. Applicants should obtain a cross mark of 75% to display they possess enough understanding to combine into British life successfully.

The check is a part of a broader framework aimed toward selling a cohesive society by emphasising shared values and information.

Despite its intentions, the Life within the UK Test has confronted criticism through the years. Many argue that it focuses too closely on obscure historic details slightly than sensible information helpful for integration.

Questions concerning the dates of medieval battles or the exact variety of members within the House of Lords, as an example, are seen as irrelevant to on a regular basis life.

Critics additionally spotlight that the check’s content material can really feel overly tough and disconnected from the lived experiences of immigrants.

Furthermore, there are issues about the price of the check and the broader course of, which some really feel locations pointless monetary pressure on candidates.

These criticisms have led to ongoing debates about whether or not the check successfully achieves its objective of fostering integration.