Yesterday Ministers admitted to having lost track of around 40,000 migrants with no right to be in Britain including suspected terrorists and criminals.  The Home Office is under pressure to track them down and Lin Homer, CEO of the UK Border Agency (UKBA) told the Home Affairs Select Committee yesterday that “Where further action is required it will be taken and any cases which may be considered as harmful to the public will be prioritised.” Good news, hopefully arrests of the most dangerous cases will follow.  Ashley Robinson is  the civil servant responsible for coordinating the national arrest team.  Here is what he was prioritising yesterday:

From: Robinson Ashley
Sent: 21 October 2009 12:57
Subject: Home Office L&SE: Winter Games

FAO Home Office Staff in London & South East (other CSSC members can attend as guests on invitation)

I will be organising Mixed Touch Rugby and Mixed Tug of War at the Home Office L&SE Winter Games on Thursday 26th November 2009: 11-4 @ Metropolitan Police Sports Ground, Imber Court Ember Lane, East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 0BT

SPECIAL LEAVE with PAY for Home Office staff working inside London & South East – subject to line-management authorisation can be applied for.  Are you keen to enter a team/event?

Kind Regards

Ashley C Robinson
Club Captain: CSSC Barbarians Rugby
C/o National Arrest Team Coordinator | Immigration Group | United Kingdom Border Agency

Note the special leave with pay to scrum down with the opposite sex at the taxpayers’ expense.  Guido called Ashley to ask him why exactly (apart from the obvious fun to be had) he thought this was a good idea:

Guido : Why do you think the taxpayers should pay for your rugby and tug-of-war jolly during business hours?
Ashley : I don’t know what you are talking about.
GF : [Guido reads him back email]
Ashley : Someone has forwarded you my email have they?
GF : Yes
Ashley : [Thinking fast] It is in line with best practice in the private sector, a healthy workforce has less time off and is happier blah, blah, blah…
GF : But why do it on a work day?
Ashley : Think you better speak to the press office…

John Reid did say the Home Office was “unfit for purpose”.  Not sure that paying civil servants to have fun and games when they should be working was the solution he had in mind…