British banks ordered to inform on suspected illegal immigrants amid Tory crackdown

‘UK banks will be forced to carry out immigration checks on millions of bank accounts as part of Prime Minister Theresa May’s bid to create a “hostile environment” for illegal immigrants.
According to the Guardian, banks will check 70 million bank accounts on a quarterly basis, with the Home Office expecting to identify up to 6,000 failed asylum seekers, foreign criminals and visa over-stayers facing deportation in the first year alone.
Banks will be forced to freeze or close down accounts of those they identify as illegal immigrants, with officers claiming it will be an incentive for the individuals in question to return voluntarily to their home countries.
They have also been told to adopt a default position whereby customers suspected of being in the UK without leave to remain are told that they should report to the Home Office directly. This would apply regardless of whether customers are able to provide a passport or biometric data.’
Read more: British banks ordered to inform on suspected illegal immigrants amid Tory crackdown