UK Home Secretary criticized for racist spot checks on illegal immigrants

British Home Secretary Theresa May is reportedly under pressure from within Tory ranks to scale down a new and tough crackdown on suspected illegal immigrants.

The pressure to scale down comes in the wake of a report published by The Independent newspaper that officials had conducted a series of "racist and intimidatory" spot checks at railway stations in areas with large ethnic minority populations.

The government is also facing criticism over a campaign in which trucks reportedly carried messages such as "go home or face arrest" while passing through several London boroughs.

Both schemes were signed off by the Home Office.

Conservative elements now feel that an unnecessary row has surfaced over tactics and distracted from policy.

Meanwhile, the spot-checks have triggered an investigation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission for possible unlawful discrimination.

It is being touted around that the government while doing something about irregular immigration, must know where to draw the line on what is a complex issue.