Staff suspended after 'Israel' crossed out on birth certificate
The certificate was returned with the father's place of birth graffitied, the Campaign Against Antisemitism said
Last updated 22nd Feb 2024
Members of staff at a private company working with the Home Office have been suspended after a birth certificate was returned to a family in London with the word "Israel" crossed out.
The certificate was sent as part of a passport application two weeks ago, the Campaign Against Antisemitism said.
When it came back, the father's place of birth had been defaced, something the charity said left the parents "very concerned".
The Home Office launched an urgent review of the claims on Tuesday.
James Cleverly confirmed the suspensions in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday but it is not clear how many staff have been suspended.
He wrote: "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."
The Campaign Against Antisemitism previously posted on X saying: "Two weeks ago, a member of the public sent off a passport application to @ukhomeoffice for his six-month-old baby girl.
"Today, the birth certificate was returned ripped with the word 'Israel' scribbled out. The parents are understandably very concerned about this incident.
"We are asking the Home Office to investigate how this happened. The Home Office has responsibility for law enforcement and the security of the Jewish community.
"Confidence in the authorities is at painfully low levels and must be restored."
A spokesperson for the charity added: "This is completely unacceptable. When sending off a passport application to the Home Office, the last thing one should ever expect is to have their child's birthday certificate returned, torn, with the parent's place of birth scribbled out, just because it is the Jewish state.
"We are assisting the parents, who are understandably very concerned about this incident."