Home Office contractor suspends staff after ‘Israel’ defaced on birth certificate

home office contractor suspends staff after ‘israel’ defaced on birth certificate

The baby’s birth certificate had been submitted in a passport application. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA

Staff have been suspended and a full inquiry has been launched by a Home Office contractor over claims that the word “Israel” was defaced on a baby’s birth certificate after it was submitted in a passport application.

The Paris-based contractor Sopra Steria said it was “shocked and saddened” by the allegations and confirmed it started “full investigation into the handling of the documentation and are treating this incident with the utmost seriousness”.

It confirmed that staff had been suspended but did not specifying how many workers had been disciplined.

The family involved called for those responsible to be dismissed, and are reported to be planning to sue the company. “I felt horrendous when I saw it for the first time,” the baby’s father, Israel, told Sky News.

Asked about rising antisemitism in the UK, the father-of-three, said: “The situation here is not good. To be Jewish in the UK is very hard. And it’s not getting better, it’s getting worse and worse.”

The incident was highlighted by the Campaign Against Antisemitism, which on Monday posted an image on X of the defaced and torn document. Isreal, the baby’s father natal country, had been scribbled out.

CAA demanded an explanation from the home office for an explanation and added: “Confidence in the authorities is at painfully low levels and must be restored.”

Responding on Wednesday, James Cleverly apologised to the family and said the government would not tolerate antisemitism. Posting on X, the home secretary said: “We apologise to the family for the offence caused and I have ordered an urgent review of a birth certificate being defaced.

“While we establish the facts, our commercial partner has suspended some staff. The matter is totally unacceptable. We will not tolerate antisemitism.”

In a statement, Sopra Steria said: “One of our service delivery partners has suspended members of staff while the investigation is ongoing.

“We are shocked and saddened by these reports and are working closely with the Home Office to ensure appropriate action is taken.”

The CAA said: “The home secretary has rightly apologised on behalf of the department, and we have relayed that apology to the victims. We commend the home secretary for acting quickly and forthrightly following this outrageous incident.

“Clearly, for someone to receive their child’s birth certificate torn, with the parent’s place of birth scribbled out, just because it is the Jewish state, falls well beneath those standards.

“It is gross misconduct, and the company must remove the individual responsible.”

In 2020 Sopra Steria announced it had been awarded a five-year Home Office contract to “deliver a modern, digital service to securely validate and digitise passport application forms and supporting evidence”, adding that the appointment built on a “successful 11-year partnership” with the UK government’s Passport Office.

The technology firm, whose UK head office is in Hemel Hempstead, said it would provide the service alongside a storage and information management services company, Iron Mountain, from two sites in the Hertfordshire town and Corby, Northamptonshire.

The work involves scanning, validating and uploading a digital copy of “key documents for British passport applications” for processing before storing and returning documents to customers, the company said at the time.

Iron Mountain has been contacted for comment.

News Related

OTHER NEWS

FA confident that Man Utd starlet will pick England over Ghana

Kobbie Mainoo made his first start for Man Utd at Everton (Photo: Getty) The Football Association are reportedly confident that Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo will choose to represent England ... Read more »

World Darts Championship draw throws up tricky tests for big names

Michael Smith will begin the defence of his world title on the opening night (Picture: Getty Images) The 2024 World Darts Championship is less than three weeks away and the ... Read more »

Pioneering flight to use repurposed cooking oil to cross Atlantic

For the first time a long haul commercial aircraft is flying across the Atlantic using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). A long haul commercial flight is flying to the US ... Read more »

King meets world business and finance figures at Buckingham Palace

The King has met business and finance leaders from across the world at a Buckingham Palace reception to mark the conclusion of the UK’s Global Investment Summit. Charles was introduced ... Read more »

What Lou Holtz thinks of Ohio State's loss to Michigan: 'They aren't real happy'

After Ohio State’s 30-24 loss to Michigan Saturday, many college football fans were wondering where Lou Holtz was. In his postgame interview after the Buckeyes beat Notre Dame 17-14 in ... Read more »

Darius Slay wouldn't have minded being penalized on controversial no-call

Darius Slay wouldn’t have minded being penalized on controversial no-call No matter which team you were rooting for on Sunday, we can all agree that the officiating job performed by ... Read more »

Mac Jones discusses Patriots future after latest benching

New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) Quarterback Mac Jones remains committed to finding success with the New England Patriots even though his future is up in the air following ... Read more »
Top List in the World