Enfield LBC is to pilot a new scheme tackling illegal immigration. The borough will be taking forward joint working as a partnership authority for the UK Border Agency (UKBA). The initiative will tackle fraud, people smuggling and child abuse. Around 7,500 UKBA officers are to be reorganised into 70-80 local immigration teams, focusing on local immigration crime, in partnership with councils, police and customs. Each local team will enforce immigration laws, concentrating on intelligence gathering, the disruption of illegal activity, tracking down and detaining immigration offenders and failed asylum-seekers, and tackling illegal working. Council leader, Cllr Mike Rye, said: ‘Having a UKBA officer "in situ" in our offices will be an immense help in all areas of our work – I am pleased that Enfield has been chosen to pilot this new way of working. ‘This partnership will be a great asset in helping us combat fraud, speeding up checks on the immigration status of people applying for council services, and improving the exchange of information between the council and the UK Border Agency for child protection purposes.'