controversial media vans in London heightened racial tension  London - Arab Today The UK advertising watchdog has called for an investigation into the Home Office’s controversial, “Go home or Face Arrest”, campaign, after receiving complaints that it incited racial tensions between come communities.
More than 60 complaints were made to the Advertising Standards Agency, that it breached UK advertising law, because it is offensive and irresponsible.
Lord Lipsey, a former member of the ASA’s council said the campaign is misleading.  The ad states, “106 arrests made last week in your area”, which members of the public said suggests that this is purely due to living in the UK without permission.  However the figure in fact is broad-range number includes arrests for others crimes included.
\"The government is deliberately misleading the public by aggregating figures over an area which no one would describe as theirs,\" he said. \"If the government is to mount a campaign of this nature, it is incumbent on it to ensure that it does not exaggerate or lie, in breach of the advertising code of practice\".
A number of human rights’ groups have voiced concerns over the campaign. Refugee Action, Amnesty and Freedom from Torture said it was a cynical ploy which created hostility against ethnic groups in communities.
The Information Commissioner’s office said it will monitor the campaign for three months.  It said failure to show signs of improvement during this period, “\"may result in enforcement action\".
The Home Office has come under heavy criticism, which has mobile vans driving through six boroughs of London, bearing slogans aimed to urge illegal immigrants to return to their country.