Britain will introduce new rules on Tuesday that target sham marriages and the gangs that exploit legal loopholes in the country's immigration system. The problem was highlighted last September when police arrested seven people and smashed a criminal network responsible for setting up hundreds of fake marriages, some involving Dutch women flown into Britain to marry West African men. Under the new laws, those living in Britain under immigration control - meaning they need permission to stay in the country - must visit a special register office if they want to marry.

They must attend with their partner and meet new eligibility rules before their notice to marry is accepted.

"The government is determined to crack down on those who try to exploit our immigration laws by entering into sham marriages," Home Office Minister Des Browne said in a statement.

"New designated register offices will help to protect the integrity of our immigration controls ... Our aim is to avoid unnecessary disruption of genuine marriages, while providing firm controls to prevent abuse," he added.

Racketeers have exploited a loophole that allowed foreign nationals to stay in the country if they marry a European Union citizen who is working in Britain.

Couples were not required to prove they had a past life together or that they intended to co-habit. The rules led to between 10,000 and 15,000 fake marriages a year in Britain, according to government estimates.

Immigration is expected to figure prominently in the upcoming general election, expected in May.

Copyright Reuters, 2005