Britain's border controls in crisis 'because of seasonal workers'
BRITAIN’S border controls are slipping into a crisis because budget cuts are forcing bosses to rely on seasonal workers to carry out passport checks, experts fear.
Despite demands for greater control over UK borders being a key factor behind the Brexit vote, fears are growing criminals, terrorists and illegal immigrants will find it easier to sneak into the country because the immigration service is overstretched, it was claimed.
The Home Office was last night accused of “papering over cracks” with temporary staff manning passport control desks to meet key performance targets and keep queues down in UK airports.
The Border Force’s budget has dropped to £558.1million in 2016/17 from £617million in 2012/13 and staffing levels last year hit a five year low.
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Seasonals are not subject to the same checks as full time staff, so if they make a mistake and let someone through they shouldn’t nothing happens
This is despite passenger numbers at UK airports rising to 251.5 million in 2014 from 220.6 million in 2012.
One Immigration Service source told the Daily Express: “Seasonals are not subject to the same checks as full time staff, so if they make a mistake and let someone through they shouldn’t nothing happens.
“In six months’ time they won’t be there and that is when the country will be at risk. It’s papering over cracks.”
And added: “We keep being told that lots of people voted for Brexit because they wanted more control over immigration.
“But the reality is those controls we already have are being reduced. The frontline staff and resources are being cut. It’s a false economy and a matter of time before something serious happens as a result.
“International criminals and terrorists target the weakest point in the country’s border security. The frontline needs more resources.”
The warning comes after a report by The Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, David Bolt, said Border Force officials at Gatwick Airport were under “considerable strain” with a 12 per cent fall in staff from December 2015 to June 2016.
There were on average 7,646 people employed by Border Force in 2015/16 down from 8,153 the previous year, according to data.
Home Office chiefs insisted the data did not include “seasonal workers”.
A spokesperson said: “All seasonal staff must have relevant experience and receive specific training prior to deployment.”
