Sajid Javid has apologised after the Home Office illegally demanded immigrants provide DNA samples as part of their visa applications.

The home secretary admitted his department have denied visas or leave to remain in the UK to applicants who failed to provide DNA evidence.

Among those who had been hit with demands for DNA samples were the relatives of Gurkhas and Afghan nationals employed by the UK government.

Mr Javid told MPs such demands for DNA samples were "unacceptable", adding: "I want to take this opportunity to apologise to those who have been affected by this practice.

"The law in this context is that the provision of DNA evidence should always be voluntary and never mandatory."


Mr Javid revealed there were 51 cases where the relatives of Gurkhas, Nepalese recruits who served in the British military, were told to provide DNA samples at their own cost.

Four members of the same Gurkha family had their applications denied solely because they did not provide DNA evidence, the home secretary said.

He added these decisions have since been corrected.

A 2013 Home Office scheme to resettle Afghan nationals previously employed by the UK government also included demands for for mandatory DNA testing for families.

Mr Javid told MPs current investigations did not show any applications in this scheme were refused because applicants did not take a DNA test.

Image: Sajid Javid promised a review of his department

However, the home secretary revealed a further seven applications - processed through another Home Office scheme named Operation Fugal - were refused on suitability grounds solely over a failure to provide DNA evidence.

The scheme saw 398 cases where DNA evidence was requested using "inappropriate wording", a Home Office review showed.

In a bid to remedy the situation, Mr Javid told MPs he has "given clear instructions that officials must not seek DNA evidence on a mandatory basis in any immigration case", while he will investigate whether other schemes were affected.

The Home Office has also established a task force to aid anyone affected and those who suffered financial loss due to requirements for DNA evidence could be offered compensation.

Mr Javid said: "I know that the immigration system is operated by many highly committed people but we must make sure that the structures and processes that they use are fit for the modern world.

"And fit for the immigration system we will be bringing in as we leave the EU."

August - Apology to Windrush members wrongfully detained

Mr Javid vowed to "build an immigration system which provides control but which is also fair, humane and fully compliant with the law" as he promised a broad review of Home Office structures and processes.

The Home Office continues to deal with the Windrush immigration scandal and the home secretary promised any wider review would build on the results of a separate inquiry into that controversy.

The Windrush scandal brought close scrutiny of Theresa May's promotion of a "hostile environment" in dealing with illegal immigration.

Since being appointed home secretary, Mr Javid has distanced himself from the phrase and stressed he prefers the term of a "compliant environment".

Labour's shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said: "The widespread public response to the Windrush scandal tells us how seriously the general public take this question of fairness in our immigration system.

"We know now the mandatory provision of DNA was neither legal or fair."