The government is planning a "blitz" on abuses of the immigration system such as bogus marriages and language schools, David Blunkett has said.

Speaking to the BBC Radio 4 Today programme on Thursday, the home secretary said the move would be part of a package designed to keep ahead of organised criminals.

"We are going to tighten up dramatically on the students coming in, the colleges which take those students, private adult colleges - many of them providing language courses," he said.

"They are very important for our economy...but also a growing scam.

"Secondly, making sure that those students who do come actually turn up on their courses and don't disappear into the economy.  Thirdly, we will be making sure that we deal with the issue of bogus marriages...we have got a package of measures on that. 

"And as we move into the [new EU member state] accession arrangements from May 1 readjusting quotas for sectors, including agriculture."

Bogus students

He confirmed that the government would be accrediting colleges to reduce the "several thousand" bogus students that enter the system each year.

"Over the next weeks to come there will be a blitz on checking those colleges actually exist.  We are putting extra resources in," Blunkett said.

"We can check with those bona fide, accredited colleges that students actually turn up and stay on their courses."

In addition, the Home Office plans for immigration officers to work in certain registry offices to reduce the number of bogus marriages.

"The work we are now doing will ensure that there will be authorised registry offices so that particular categories, not those who have been in the country for a long time, but particular categories of overseas nationals will have to register at that authorised registry office before they can get married elsewhere," said Blunkett.

"And we will put immigration officers in there and we will work alongside the registrars.  And we are going to consult with them on a range of other measures...we have got to tighten it up."

Identity Cards

The home secretary's comments came as a new MORI poll revealed overwhelming support for the introduction of identity cards, with the prevention of illegal immigration cited as the main reason.

Of those questioned, 80 per cent said they backed a national scheme, with a similar proportion prepared to carry the card at all times, although only a fifth said they would be prepared to pay the proposed £35 fee.

Blunkett welcomed the results.

"As we have been saying, it also demonstrates a degree of trust in terms of being able to protect privacy which I'm very pleased about," he said.

However, he also acknowledged the finding that 58 per cent were "not confident" that an ID card scheme would be introduced smoothly.

"I have been the first to admit in the two years we have been dealing with this behind the scenes that we need to get this right which is why we will have to take our time," he said.

"We will have to do this incrementally, why at each stage the Office of Government Commerce will do the necessary checks and we are going to get outside expertise in to make sure that this isn't a cock up."

But the Liberal Democrats were sceptical about the plans.

"If the public have a choice between spending billions on a piece of plastic or employing more police and MI5 officials, I am convinced they will reject ID cards," said home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten.

"The public want their money spent in a way that will be more effective in tackling terrorism and crime.

"Sadly, ID cards did not prevent the bombings in Madrid or attacks in New York.  Mr Blunkett should not use the threat of terror as an opportunity to push forward a scheme that would change the character of this country and waste billions of pounds."