Border Security Flaw Let Tommy Robinson Leave UK Despite ‘Wanted’ Status

Download IPFS

A security oversight at Britain’s borders enabled far-right activist Tommy Robinson to leave the country despite being listed as “wanted” by police following an alleged assault at St Pancras station in London.

Robinson, 42, whose legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, boarded a Ryanair flight from Stansted Airport to Tenerife just hours after being flagged by police on the national computer system. The alert was reportedly raised nearly five hours before his departure, yet Robinson still cleared passport checks and left the country unhindered.

The incident has highlighted a significant loophole in the United Kingdom’s border enforcement protocols. Airlines are not currently required to re-check a passenger’s legal status after online check-in, which is when security systems are typically cross-referenced. Staff at departure gates are only obliged to verify the validity of travel documents, not whether the traveller is wanted for alleged crimes.

British Transport Police (BTP) launched a manhunt after an altercation at St Pancras station on 27 July left a 64-year-old man with serious injuries. Viral video footage from the scene showed the victim lying motionless on the concourse while Robinson could be seen nearby, agitated and speaking to onlookers. In the video, he claimed he had acted in self-defence, stating, “He come at me, bruv.”

The injured man was taken to a major trauma centre in London and has since been discharged, according to a BTP spokesperson. Police said they are continuing to investigate the incident and are liaising with international partners to locate Robinson.

The case has raised fresh concerns over the effectiveness of border control systems in preventing individuals wanted in connection with serious incidents from leaving the country undetected. Critics argue the current procedures do not adequately bridge the gap between law enforcement databases and airline check-in systems.

Robinson, founder of the now-defunct English Defence League, had been distributing flyers at the station shortly before the altercation, promoting a so-called “free speech” rally scheduled for 13 September. His public presence continues to attract controversy, and he remains a polarising figure in British political discourse.

The Home Office has yet to comment publicly on the matter, but security experts have called for an urgent review of the policies governing last-minute checks at departure gates. With growing public concern over violent crime and border security, questions are likely to intensify over whether current protocols are fit for purpose.

Meanwhile, British Transport Police have urged anyone with further information about the St Pancras incident to come forward. The investigation remains ongoing, and no formal charges have yet been filed.