Security risk' Santa denied asylum entry
Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 4:04 pmA leading expert on St Nicholas was reportedly forbidden from delivering children's presents at an asylum centre because of the security risk he posed.
Guards at Yarl's Wood immigration removal centre in Bedfordshire called police after the Rev Canon James Rosenthal appeared dressed as Santa Claus and carrying £300 worth of gifts.
Rev Rosenthal, the Anglican Church’s expert on the patron saint of children and the imprisoned, said that the presents were donated by several churches in the London area and that the visit had been prearranged.
"St Nick has never been turned away from anywhere before," he told The Sunday Telegraph. "So I was extremely disappointed not to be able to hand-deliver the gifts to the children detained at Yarl's Wood. I hope the kids realise that they will be firmly in my prayers."
A spokesman for the Home Office said that only people subject to stringent security checks can be allowed into the centre, and that there can be no exceptions.
Well he had a beard so that obviously makes him a terrorist?
you are wasting money at an immigration centre, with people who dont understand respect and values, whoever thought charity begins at home is one sad deluded corrupt person.