Ignorance is not an excuse for incompetence

4.24.48pm GMT Fri 2nd Mar 2007

The government have today published the report of the inquiry into the failure of Home Office officials to properly process files on Britons convicted of crimes overseas has been published today.

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary Nick Clegg MP said:

"This report is a glorified form of buck passing. John Reid and his ministers claim that they knew nothing so can't be held to account, as if ignorance is an acceptable excuse for serial incompetence.

"Yet a minister was told by ACPO last October that a number of very serious crimes had been committed by UK citizens in Germany, including the rape of young children. It simply beggars belief that this did not set political alarm bells ringing.

"The excuse of ministerial ignorance is starting to wear very thin indeed."