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Independent Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency publishes report on intelligence
(Embargoed until
00:01 13 May 2011)
The UK Border Agency needs to focus on the outcome of
intelligence and assess how often allegations lead to the
prevention or detection of immigration and customs offences, said
John Vine CBE QPM, the Independent Chief Inspector of the UK
Border Agency, publishing his thematic inspection report on how
the UK Border Agency receives and uses intelligence.
The inspection took place between 15 October and 9 December 2010
and focused on how the UK Border Agency worked with law
enforcement agencies and other bodies to obtain relevant and up to
date intelligence. The inspection also looked at how intelligence
is then passed to frontline decision makers.
At the time of inspection, the Chief Inspector was pleased to
find evidence that:
* intelligence had been used in particular operations to
prevent and detect immigration and customs offences; and
* the
development of Local Immigration Teams and Field Intelligence
Officers provided an opportunity for the Agency to work closely
with a range of organisations, from whom information could be
obtained and developed into intelligence.
However, the Chief Inspector was concerned to find that:
* the Agency failed to routinely capture whether allegations
received from members of the public had been acted on or how many
had resulted in the prevention or detection of immigration or
customs offences;
* there were inconsistent views regarding
the role intelligence should play and whether the Agency could or
should be intelligence-led;
* intelligence assessments did not
take into account the quality of decision making when seeking
ministerial authorisations to discriminate; and
* different
methods were used by frontline staff at ports of entry to identify
the people or vehicles that required further examination, with no
analysis of which of these best identified potential offences or offenders.
John Vine, Independent Chief Inspector of the UK Border
Agency, said:
"Intelligence provides the UK Border Agency with an
important means of preventing and detecting immigration and
customs offences. This inspection focused on the effectiveness and
efficiency with which the Agency receives, develops and uses intelligence.
"The Agency has done a significant amount of work to
try to understand the role of intelligence and it is only part of
the way through a programme of change. However, there’s a real
need for the Agency to focus more rigorously on the actual outcome
of intelligence. It is not acceptable, for example, that the
Agency fails to routinely capture whether allegations received by
members of the public have been acted on or how many have resulted
in the prevention or detection of immigration or customs offences.
"In addition, I expect to see greater assurance that
the methods used by the Agency’s frontline staff at ports of entry
to subject particular people or goods to further examination are
not discriminatory. The UK Border Agency must use intelligence
effectively if it is to ensure the law is upheld and its resources
are deployed effectively and efficiently."
- ENDS -
Notes to Editors:
1. Copies of this report can be found on the Independent
Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency’s website from 13 May 2011
at www.independent.gov.uk/icinspector/news
2. The Chief Inspector is independent of the UK Border Agency
and is required to report annually to the Secretary of State.
Contacts:
NDS Enquiries
Phone: For enquiries please contact the issuing dept
ndsenquiries@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Trish Macready
Phone: 0203 513 0448
patricia.macready@icinspector.gsi.gov.uk