Apology over police officer murdered by Kamel Bourgass

BBC News:

Labour election chief Alan Milburn has apologised for the death of a policeman killed by ricin plotter Kamel Bourgass.

Bourgass has been jailed for life for the murder of DC Stephen Oake. The Conservatives say he was only in the UK because of a "chaotic" asylum system.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke said the government had accepted responsibility. But he said things had improved and urged the Tories to support ID cards.

The Lib Dems oppose ID cards but want a border security force and more police.

Bourgass, who had at least four false identities, has been jailed for murder and plotting to spread poisons.

Bourgass said he had entered the UK in 2000 using forged documents. His asylum claim was rejected in 2001 but he was not arrested until January 2003, when he killed DC Oake.

Asked if he would apologise for asylum failures which allowed Bourgass to stay in the UK, Mr Milburn said: "What we apologise for is the death of that police officer serving his country, trying to protect his country."

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