DOZENS of illegal immigrants are living in Scotland more than two years after their presence was brought to the attention of the Home Office, according to a whistleblower working for the Scottish Courts Service.

Mohammed Asif, an interpreter at Glasgow Sheriff Court, claims he alerted immigration officials to an illegal trade in fake passports that has allowed more than 50 Pakistanis, Iranians and Indians, posing as Afghan asylum seekers under assumed names, to remain in Britain illegally.

Asif, who is president of the Scottish Afghan Society, claims that because the authorities do not know the true identities of the bogus refugees, they have no way of knowing if they have criminal or terrorist backgrounds.

Despite writing to Hazel Blears, the former Home Office minister, and providing immigration officials with details of the illegal immigrants, Asif claims nothing has been done.

The government’s failure to deport 1,000 foreign criminals after they were released from prisons led to the departure of Charles Clarke as home secretary last week.

One of the most high-risk criminals has been detained in Aberdeenshire, but 38 have yet to be tracked down.

Asif claims to have evidence of foreign nationals gaining asylum illegally since 2000. At least 50 have been granted indefinite leave to remain.

Many claimed to be fleeing the tyrannical Taliban regime — ousted in 2002 — because they believed the Home Office would look more favourably on their claims. Many used false Afghan documents despite not being able to read or write the language.

“I have discussed with officials what is happening and nothing has changed,” said Asif. “They asked if I had proof and I provided proof. It is shocking that nothing has been done and it has compromised British security.”

The Sunday Times has spoken to a former officer with Strathclyde police, who confirmed that Asif raised concerns with him two years ago.

“Details were passed to Special Branch, who I would have expected to contact the Home Office,” said the retired officer, who did not want to be named. “Asif raised the issue with us many times, but as it wasn’t a police matter our involvement was limited.”

Sayad Karwani, of the Society of Afghan Residents in the UK, admitted “hundreds” of people in Britain were disguising their true nationality and that he had raised concerns with the authorities.

“We have reported the problem to the Home Office,” he said. “I have told them people are coming to Britain claiming they are from Afghanistan. I know it’s happening.”

A spokesman for the Home Office was unable to confirm if information provided by Asif had been investigated. He was unable to comment on an e-mail sent to Blears because, he said, it was sent to her constituency office.

“We expect people to make claims for asylum using false nationalities,” said a spokesman. “If there is any evidence that leave to remain in Britain was obtained by deception, then that can be revoked. It is something we take very seriously and if there is evidence to that effect we want that information.”

Blears said yesterday that she had no recollection of the correspondence.

“If e-mails come to my constituency office which are not from my constituents, then they would be forwarded to the Home Office. I will ask officials to look into it,” she said.

A spokeswoman for Strathclyde police said: “We have protocols in place where we can pass appropriate information to the UK immigration service.”

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