Changes to Australian visa law to curb gangs
August 21 2009 by Matt Jones
Chris Evans restricts Australia visa
Gangs from Bulgaria and Romania have been able to slip though Australian immigration. Changes are being made to tighten the system.
People making the move to Australia from Bulgaria and Romania are up from 1,500 to 5,200 in the past two years. It is thought some of the immigrants are members of criminal gangs and take part in organized pick-pocketing.
Australian immigration Minister Chris Evans said: "Twenty-four Bulgarian and Romanian nationals had been arrested recently in Australia for credit card skimming and organised pickpocketing".
It was recently revealed that Eastern European crime gangs were training thieves to fly halfway round the world to take advantages of the generous Australian visa rules and carry out the thefts.
Minister Evans explained that “safeguard profiles” have been increased to help keep out the thieves. Earlier this week the European Commission requested that Minister Evans extend the transit without visa program, but he rejected the request and instead issued an toughening of policy.
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