PRITI Patel’s recent visit to Keighley to supposedly support much-needed anti-crime initiatives is somewhat galling given her party’s past failings in this area.

Let’s start with past cuts to frontline policing. Then a disastrous decision to privatise two thirds of the probation service which resulted in a humiliating reversal. Then conclude with the shambles overseen by the Home Secretary that saw Ukrainian refugees struggling to receive visas despite thousands of UK citizens offering a home. What is rarely acknowledged in the media is that the visa fiasco is the result of yet another private contract, awarded this time to French company TLS.

As far back as November 2021, David Neal (Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration) warned Ms Patel that TLS’ relentless profit drive risked “repetitional damage” to the UK. In the absence of any adequately staffed centres, Ukrainian refugees had to resort to paying TLS for “additional services”, whilst we saw other countries welcome them with open arms.

Now we are led to believe that the answer to the complexities of the cross-Channel migrants is to relocate them at taxpayers’ expense to a country with an appalling human rights record. In the event of any future return visits I hope Robbie Moore will be a bit more sensitive to the feelings of people of Ukrainian descent and their supporters and demand some explanations for Ms Patel’s failings.

Richard Edwards, Steeton

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