Straw: Retain passport controls

Britain "will retain border controls"

Straw Refuses to Give up Border Controls

During a visit to Brussels, Mr Straw said Britain was keen to work with its European partners to tackle international crime, but it would retain control over border policy, immigration and asylum.

The meeting of EU Home Affairs ministers came as new figures suggested rates of violent crime are worse in England and Wales than in any other major industrialised nation.

Britain's domestic crime situation is not on the agenda of the two-day meeting. The talks were devoted largely to issues on which Britain is happy to co-operate with its EU partners such as cross-border crime, fraud and corruption.

The only decision required was on a plan for joint action on a system to exchange information on new synthetic drugs. There was also a proposal from the European Commission to give better protection to unaccompanied children seeking asylum in the European Union.

At the talks, Mr Straw emphasised Britain's willingness to co-operate with other countries to tackle these cross-border problems.

But the Home Secretary was equally emphatic in opposing plans by other member states to go further than co-operation. They want to forge shared policies for what they see as shared problems.

In particular, the Home Secretary said Britain was against giving up control over immigration, asylum and border policy. "We have border controls at our external borders which are appropriate for Britain," said Mr Straw.

"They're not appropriate for most countries in Europe, because they have vast land borders and therefore, in continental Europe, they need internal controls with tougher police powers and identity cards," he insisted.

Other member states are sympathetic to Britain's argument, but they want to push ahead. A compromise on borders and immigration will be sought at the Amsterdam summit next month.