The British Home Office is unfit to cope with the immigration system and needs a "fundamental overhaul" if it is to regain control, Home Secretary John Reid said today.
Minister John Reid
The department's release of more than 1,000 foreign prisoners who should have been considered for deportation damaged Tony Blair's government and led to the sacking of Mr Reid's predecessor Charles Clarke, earlier this month.
"Our system is not fit for purpose," Mr Reid told MPs. "It is inadequate in terms of its scope, it is inadequate in terms of its information technology, leadership, management systems and processes."
The foreign prisoner debacle has focused attention on the failings of one of Britain's biggest and most diverse government departments.
Mr Clarke lost his job after blaming a "systemic failure" in his department for the prisoners' release.
The bungle embarrassed the government in the run-up to local elections which saw Blair's Labour Party lose support across the country.
Staff at the ministry could lose their jobs, Mr Reid said. "If there are people culpable, they will have to bear responsibility," he said. "I do believe that from time to time (the department) is dysfunctional."
About 85 foreigners convicted for serious offences remain at large. Eight of the most serious went on to commit more crime but all four freed murderers were now back in prison.