City firm Penningtons has accused officials at the UK Border Agency (UKBA) of threatening its clients and breaking the Civil Service Code, as the government seeks to meet its commitment to reduce UK net migration to the ‘tens of thousands’.

The complaints relate to action taken against private educational institutions that sponsor licences under Tier 4 of the points-based immigration system (PBS).

Penningtons has complained about letters sent to education providers by UKBA, in which the agency threatened to suspend the institutions’ authorisation to sponsor foreign students under PBS unless they immediately stopped issuing certificates to students and attended a meeting with UKBA.

Providers who attended the meeting reported that the agency informed them that they were sponsoring too many students.

Penningtons argues that UKBA has breached immigration rules under which, once education providers have been authorised to sponsor students, the agency should not interfere with the process unless there is evidence that they have failed to comply with sponsor guidance.

In a letter to UKBA, Penningtons said: ‘It is entirely inappropriate for officials acting on behalf of [UKBA] to behave in this manner towards businesses that the agency has approved to hold sponsor licences, and which have a right to issue ­certificates allocated to them, provided they comply with sponsor guidance.’

Penningtons said tactics used by UKBA officials were at odds with UKBA guidance, and breached aspects of the Civil Service Code, including the requirement for officials to ‘deal with the public and their affairs fairly, efficiently, promptly, effectively and sensitively, to the best of your ability’, and to ‘set out facts and relevant issues truthfully’.

The firm also warned that individual UKBA officials could face misfeasance actions.

Penningtons partner Nichola Carter told the Gazette: ‘Clients who are legitimate providers are now going out of business as a result of UKBA conduct.

'Clients who have been subject to the aggressive approach outlined in our letter, already concerned about the future of their businesses, felt frightened.’

In a robust response to Penningtons’ letter, UKBA assistant director George Shirley denied that threatening behaviour had been used, and insisted that all sponsors, private and publicly funded, were treated equally.

He added: ‘We are well aware of the Civil Service Code, and we follow it with care.’