London: Cases of suspected sham marriages in England and Wales have risen by 66 per cent in a year, as the Home Office steps up measures to stop them.
Registrars reported 934 suspected sham marriages in 2010, compared to 561 in 2009 and 344 the year before.
The increases come after the Law Lords overturned a government scheme designed to stop illegal immigrants marrying.
“Effective enforcement” would replace the scheme and recent operations have seen 155 arrests, the Home Office said.
Registrars must report suspicious marriages to the UK Border Agency.
In some cases immigration officers have disrupted marriages and arrested brides, grooms and guests during ceremonies.
Mandy Brammer, the deputy superintendent registrar for Brent, said the problem had increased in the north London borough which sometimes saw five or six suspected sham marriages a week.
“There are certainly things that make you suspicious. Sometimes couples don’t even know the full name or date of birth of the person they are planning to marry,” she said.
Registrars reported 3,578 suspected fake marriages in 2004 but this fell to 452 in 2005, the year the Certificate of Approval (COA) scheme was brought in. Figures remained below 500 a year until 2009.
The scheme meant people not legally permanently settled in the UK needed Home Office permission to marry.
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