Curb on foreigners marrying in London

Foreigners born outside the European Union will be banned from marrying in four London boroughs in a new drive against bogus marriages.

The Home Off ice has removed a number of register offices across England and Wales from its official list in a bid to wipe out the growing number of sham marriages.

Official figures show there have been more than 6,000 since a clampdown was promised in 2002. But registrars estimate that as many as 25,000 could be taking place every year.

The problem is particularly bad in London, where up to one in five civil ceremonies are thought to be fake.

Immigrants who want to marry here will have to undergo intensive questioning at one of 76 designated register offices.

The controversial plans have been criticised by Richmond Park's Liberal Democrat MP Jenny Tonge. "There are a lot of foreign nationals, especially from countries such as Australia, the US, South Africa and Japan, living in Richmond who will be hugely inconvenienced," she said.

Richmond council leader Tony Arbour said: "Foreign nationals wishing to get married will have to travel to neighbouring boroughs such as Kingston to be interviewed.

"The borough has not been negligent in failing to spot bogus marriages but it looks like we are being punished."

A quarter of the 2,000 marriages in Richmond each year involve a foreign national.

Superintendent registrar Win Whiting said: "We have turned a lot of people away because we suspected their marriages would be bogus, but we have enough procedures in place to deal with them."

The Home Office said: "If a couple have a designated register office in the district where they live, they will be required to attend that centre. If there is no designated office, they may give notice at any designated register office that is conveniently located for them."

Couples from Richmond, Sutton, Bexley or Bromley who are granted notice to marry at a designated register office will be allowed to return to their own borough for the ceremony.

In 2001, 756 sham marriages were reported by registrars. Since 2002, there have been more than 6,000 - but only 110 people have been charged.

Criminal gangs charge up to ?10,000 to arrange a ceremony, paying "brides" or "grooms" up to ?2,000.