The solicitors’ watchdog has closed down three corporations on the centre of a newspaper investigation which reportedly discovered attorneys had assisted folks to make false asylum claims.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) stated it had shut down Rashid & Rashid in South Wimbledon, Kingswright Solicitors in Birmingham and Lincoln Lawrence in Hounslow following the undercover operation by the Daily Mail.
The newspaper reported that quite a few solicitors agreed to assist an undercover reporter posing as an financial migrant to submit a false asylum software in alternate for hundreds of kilos.
The SRA is an unbiased regulatory physique for solicitors in England and Wales. Its guidelines stop attorneys from deceptive courts, and appearing dishonestly or with a scarcity of integrity might see somebody struck off.
In a press release, the SRA stated: “We have closed down three solicitor firms that were named in a Daily Mail undercover operation involving immigration services.
“These corporations are Rashid & Rashid in South Wimbledon, Kingswright Solicitors Birmingham, and Lincoln Lawrence in Hounslow.”
The watchdog said its intervention meant it had stopped the firms from operating, had taken possession of all documents and papers held by the companies and had seized all money in its possession, including clients’ money.
The practising certificates of the following solicitors have been automatically suspended so they cannot practice as a solicitor, the regulator added.
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The SRA stated its “interventions might be challenged on the High Court” but “if that problem will not be profitable, intervened corporations stay closed, they don’t re-open”.
Sky News approached the three law firms in question but did not receive a response to requests for comment.
The SRA’s intervention was welcomed by Home Secretary Suella Braverman who tweeted: “Immigration attorneys who cheat and lie are taking the British public for a journey. Good to see this fast motion by the SRA.”
Immigration minister Robert Jenrick echoed her words, saying: “Immigration attorneys who cheat the system have to be struck off. Good to see the primary of what must be many extra actions by @sra_solicitors.”
The SRA investigation was launched after the authorities wrote to the watchdog to say the “full force of sanctions” ought to be employed within the wake of the Daily Mail investigation.
Justice Secretary Alex Chalk additionally known as for a follow-up to the overview the physique carried out on immigration recommendation final yr – highlighting the significance of “ensuring public confidence in our immigration system”.
The SRA’s immigration and asylum thematic overview discovered the general high quality was passable and there have been no widespread or systemic failings or points with high quality.
Content Source: information.sky.com