A report led by Lord Stevens proposing a ‘Border Protection Service’ (BPS) has been launched by the Conservative Party.
The report describes the use of private security companies in border security as ‘important’, adding that there is a need for better regulation and licensing: “The BPS should be given responsibility for licensing ‘known shippers ’ (in the EU known as ‘Authorised Economic Operators’) – those considered to have the highest security standards, and inspecting cargo forwarding companies with regard to the security and safety measures they need to adopt. Further regulation of private security companies working at airports and sea ports and the screening of those who work for them is necessary. This may include a common standard of inspection for in-house, as well as contract, staff under the Private Security Industry Act 2001.”
The Tories point out that there are 11 separate agencies that deal with border protection, leading to confusing situations where one organisation is allowed to detain suspects, but another has to arrest them. Under the Tory plans, the major agencies would be brought together into a single, unified and coherent border police force. To download the report visit the Conservatives’ website.
Lord Stevens, the former Met Police Commissioner, who chaired the Border Security Advisory Committee, said: "There is an urgent need for a fundamental re-design of our border arrangements." And Tory leader David Cameron added: "Our borders are literally our first line of defence, so we’ve got to do all we can to strengthen them."
In a foreword, Lord Stevens argued that there is an ‘urgent need for fundamental re-design’ of border arrangements. A committee and advisers met seven times towards the report; the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) nominated advisers. Stevens’ deputy was Rt Hon Sir John Wheeler, the former Tory MP who reviewed airport security for the Government in 2002-2003; former senior police officers Stuart Cameron Waller and Brian R Coleman OBE; BSIA chief exec David Dickinson; former senior Army man Richard Kemp CBE; former chief constable Sir Keith Povey QPM; and Gordon Wasserman. Advisors were chief constable Keith Bristow (Warwickshire); Bernard Hogan Howe (Merseyside); Ian Johnston (British Transport Police); Fred Newton (former Dumfries & Galloway assistant chief constable); and Anthony Rawsthorne.
Proposed is a ‘uniformed and unified Border Protection Service (BPS)’,which would bring together border control agencies and other relevant organisations. The service would have close liaison with among others the security section of the Department for Transport (Transec), the BSIA, and the Security Industry Authority. “The BPS would be a police service led by a chief constable, albeit with many wider ranging responsibilities than are traditionally associated with territorial police services.” It would staff border posts at UK entry and exit points, including airports,seaports and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, and patrol coastal and land border areas. It’s argued there would be savings from overheads, ‘which should be re-allocated to the front-line improvements to border security’. More than 34,000 people are employed in border security, according to the report, mainly the 21,200 in the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA).
The 34-page report argues a clear border security strategy is lacking. The authors point to a threat from terrorism: “There is no doubt more attacks will be attempted against the UK and those involved are again likely to travel abroad for preparation.” Organised crime groups are also carrying out trafficking in heroin and cocaine; and people. As for firearms, the report says: “The easing of border controls,coupled with the expansion of the EU into Eastern Europe,with its history of conflict and relatively lax gun control laws,has resulted in an influx of firearms (including fully functioning,deactivated and imitation guns, as well as electroshock weapons such as Tasers) to the UK.” And the report speaks of an economic threat, quoting a figure of $520 billion of income that flows through the world’s black economy, from counterfeiting and piracy. “The production of and trade in counterfeit goods is increasingly linked with other forms of serious organised crime and terrorism. EU customs officials estimate that at least two thirds of the counterfeit goods they seize come from China.”
The report is critical of things as they stand: “The lack of effective border cover continues to leave the UK open to criminal gangs who want to smuggle in goods, people and drugs.”
