Police officers have been told not to take action against illegal immigrants if they are victims of crime.

Police chiefs have issued guidance to officers barring them from automatically alerting deportation authorities to an illegal immigrant who has been a victim of crime.

The measures, introduced amid “heightened interest” after the Windrush scandal, also ban officers from checking the police national computer solely to see if someone has leave to remain in the UK.

Police chiefs believe fears of being reported could deter illegal immigrants who have been crime victims from coming forward.