John Reid was last night embroiled in a deepening political row after it emerged that the home secretary may have misled MPs over the extent of ministerial knowledge about the latestblunder involving his -department.

Leaked documents show senior police officers warned Home Office ministers in a letter last October that there could be dozens of dangerous criminals convicted abroad who had not been registered on the national police database. It was confirmed last night that a letter concerning foreign convictions was sent to Tony McNulty, police minister, last October.