Government memo foresees more immigration officers barring people without consideration, and 'return of the white list' - but these policies are already here

John Wadham, director of Liberty:

"Using British officials abroad to prevent people reaching Britain so their claim to asylum protection can't even be heard and assessed is clearly unjust, as is the proposed reintroduction of a white list.

"The Government has already been experimenting along these lines - that's why we're taking the Home Secretary to court (in July) over British immigration officers barring Roma people at Prague airport - apparently on the basis of their race. A Home Office ministerial authorisation appears to allow immigration officers to refuse Romas - and Afghans, Somalis, Kurds and Tamils - entry to the UK on the basis of race, despite the fact that for these people, persecution is often a very real risk".