OISC Annual Report 2010 - 11

18/07/2011

OISC Annual Report Marks a Decade of Regulation

This year marks a decade of regulation by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) of the immigration advice sector.  The number of UK regulated organisations and advisers has steadily grown over that period and now includes over 1,850 organisations and just under 3,350 advisers.

The Immigration Services Commissioner, Suzanne McCarthy, said: OISC immigration advisers have to be fit and competent to be accepted and remain in the regulatory scheme.  Good immigration advice is in the interests of both clients and advisers.
 
The Commissioner prosecutes those who give illegal immigration advice.  The Report shows that in 2010/11 the OISC conducted nearly 150 investigations and delivered one of the highest prosecution success rates since it began operating.  Over the past decade the OISC has successfully conducted nearly130 prosecutions and issued over 90 cautions.

In 2010/11 the OISC also investigated 214 complaints made against OISC regulated advisers and tripled its previous level of audits.

The Annual Report can be viewed or downloaded from the OISC website at www.oisc.gov.uk.

Notes to the Editor:

1. The Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC) is an independent public body set up under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

2. It is a criminal offence to give immigration advice or services in the UK unless you are regulated by the OISC, a regulated solicitor, barrister or legal executive or European equivalent or exempted by Ministerial Order.

3. For more information contact Clyde James, Head of Policy, Publications and Stakeholders at the OISC on 020 7211 1635.