Organised criminals are likely to be quick to exploit any perceived weaknesses or gaps in border enforcement according to a report by the NAO (National Audit Office), titled ‘UK border: preparedness for EU exit’. This, plus the UK’s potential loss of access to European Union (EU) law enforcement and national security tools, could create security weaknesses which the government would need to address urgently.
In the event of day one of a ‘no deal’ exit for the UK from the EU, due on March 29, 2019, the Government has accepted that the border will be ‘less than optimal’. This might include delays for goods crossing the border, increased opportunities for tax and regulatory non-compliance, and less information to inform checks of people crossing the border. Government is putting in place coping responses where it can. It has decided to prioritise safety and security; the flow of people and goods; and then compliance activity, including the collection of revenue, in the short term.
Amyas Morse, head of the NAO, said: “Government has openly accepted the border will be sub-optimal if there is no deal with the EU on 29 March 2019. It is not clear what sub-optimal means in practice, or how long this will last. But what is clear is that businesses and individuals who are reliant on the border running smoothly will pay the price.”
Given the uncertainty, and that it can take up to 12 months to recruit, security clear and train and deploy staff, Border Force acknowledges that there is therefore a significant risk that it will not deploy all the staff it plans to recruit by March 29, the report stated. However, Border Force will only be required to enforce a reduced compliance regime on ‘day one of no deal’. Border Force is also establishing a readiness task force of 300 staff who can be deployed to help meet peaks in demand.
Some 205m passengers crossed the border between the UK and the rest of the EU in 2017, not including an unknown number of passengers who crossed the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland. The official auditors visited ports, Eurotunnel and airports to understand the operational impact of changes in the relationship between the UK and the EU.
For the full 52-page report visit the NAO website.
Picture by Mark Rowe: Dover.
