Immigration staff charged with theft from migrants

The six officers from Kent, Surrey and London are charged with theft and money laundering

Six immigration officers have been charged following an investigation into thefts from migrants and money laundering.

Five of the officers are facing charges including conspiracy to steal and misconduct in public office, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said.

All six, who are from Surrey, Kent, Berkshire and London, have been charged with money laundering offences.

Malcolm McHaffie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said: “Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.”

The charges follow a Home Office investigation into thefts and money laundering between August 2021 and November 2022.

Besmir Matera, 36, from Reigate, Surrey, is charged with conspiracy to steal, misconduct in public office, concealing, disguising, converting, transferring or removing criminal property, obtaining leave to enter to remain in the United Kingdom by deception, and three counts of possession of an identity document with improper intention.

Jack Mitchell, 33, of Dover, Kent, is charged with conspiracy to steal, misconduct in public office, and concealing, disguising, converting, transferring or removing criminal property.

Lee-Ann Evanson, 42, of Bracknell, Berkshire, is charged with conspiracy to steal, misconduct in public office, and concealing, disguising, converting, transferring or removing criminal property.

John Bernthal, 53, of Welling, south-east London, is charged with conspiracy to steal, misconduct in public office, and concealing, disguising, converting, transferring or removing criminal property.

Ben Edwardes, 45, of Bexleyheath, south-east London, is charged with conspiracy to steal, misconduct in public office, and concealing, disguising, converting, transferring or removing criminal property.

David Grundy, 43, of Croydon, south London, is charged with concealing, disguising, converting, transferring or removing criminal property.

The six are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 29 January.

@ BBC