Manchester Airport ought to consider whether the deployment of staff and dogs in the customs channels has become predictable and therefore less effective against experienced smugglers; and should ensure the detector dogs are targeted against the commodities identified as high priority in the Border Force Control Strategy. So say Government inspectors.
The inspection analysed Home Office staff survey results, talked to staff during 130 hours of onsite observation plus interviews and focus groups, and found that many Border Force staff felt undervalued and saw management as inflexible and unfair.
Customs checks had detected a range of illicit goods, but had been less successful against high priorities, such as Class A drugs. There were questions about whether detector dogs were being used to best effect. Some officers believed that their customs experience was not being put to best use; they risked losing their specialist skills, as they were mostly being deployed to the immigration controls. The deterrent effect of the detection dogs was difficult to measure, but seizures alone represented a low return on investment, given £1.25m spent on new kennels and the costs of operating the unit. A national review had recommended dynamic and flexible deployment of dog units, but while senior managers supported this, it had yet to filter down to front line.
For the 64-page report visit the website of the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration: http://icinspector.independent.gov.uk/. For the Home Office response, visit gov.uk. Border Force fully accepted all six of the inspection recommendations. As for use of detection dogs, the Home Office said that Border Force dogs are trained to detect a range of commodities in line with the priorities in the Border Force Control Strategy, including tobacco, cash, products of animal origin and drugs. They are deployed against these as and when needed or in response to targets identified by intelligence and/or during joint operations.
