Immigration is an emotive issue. The case of the Afghans who came here as hostages and wish to stay as refugees provoked much passion. No doubt our story tonight about the Romanian travellers who raided a North Yorkshire post office will spark more discussion.

It will certainly add fuel to the fire of those who believe Britain is regarded a "soft touch" by economic migrants. This explains why the numbers of people applying for asylum here is increasing, they argue. Nonsense, say opponents; Britain's immigration laws are tough enough, and the rise in applications is down to recent conflicts in Kosovo and elsewhere.

It is a complex and sensitive debate, not least because it can carry racist overtones. Nevertheless, it is possible to draw a couple of conclusions from the case of the Romanian post office raiders.

Firstly, it demonstrates that Britain's immigration system is close to breaking point. Staff cannot cope with the number of applications they have received, nor keep track of them. Ileana and Ionut Caldararu, the travellers who raided the Selby business, were supposed to be living in temporary accommodation in Berkshire, not roaming the country.

Meanwhile, Kent has been so overwhelmed by the influx of refugees that these people are being moved around the country, to spread the cost and responsibility among local authorities.

The second point is that, whatever your view on Britain's immigration policy, this pair have forfeited any right to stay here. Described in court as "opportunist criminals", they do not warrant our sympathy or our hospitality, but instead deserve the full force of the law.

And thanks to a remarkably swift response from the police and the courts, that is exactly what they have got. An unfortunate side effect of their behaviour is that it will make life more difficult for genuine asylum seekers.

Ileana and Ionut Caldararu are now in custody awaiting sentence. But Britain's wider immigration issues are an infinitely more complex problem to solve.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.