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Independent Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency publishes report on Croydon arrest team
(Embargoed until
00:01 13 May 2011)
The UK Border Agency needs to ensure that its arrest teams
are fully compliant with the Agency’s policy and guidance, said
John Vine CBE QPM, the Independent Chief Inspector of the UK
Border Agency, publishing his short-notice inspection report of
the Croydon arrest team.
The inspection took place on 8 February 2011 and focused on the
police-like powers of arrest and the associated powers of entry,
search and seizure.
At the time of inspection, the Chief Inspector was pleased to
find that:
* there were clear processes in place to ensure that all
arrest team members had received the required arrest training and
refresher training; and
* Agency staff acted courteously and
clearly identified themselves at all times.
However, the Chief Inspector was concerned to find that:
* there was significant non-compliance with the UK Border
Agency’s policy and guidance;
* the first visit briefing
lacked formality and structure and failed to present all relevant
information e.g. the Officer in Charge did not initially mention
that the person who was the focus of the visit was four months
pregnant and no reference was made to the immigration powers that
the arrest team were likely to rely on during the visit;
* the
second visit had not been authorised in writing and although
officers received permission to enter the property, it did not
meet the requirements of informed consent; and
* the Agency’s
visit records did not present a clear audit trail, potentially
leaving the Agency open to accusations of poor professional standards.
John Vine, Independent Chief Inspector of the UK Border
Agency, said:
"Arrest team operations are one of the most
challenging and high profile areas of work undertaken by the UK
Border Agency and it is vital that this work is performed
consistently and sensitively.
"During my short-notice inspection of the Croydon
arrest team, I found significant non-compliance with the
Agency's policy and guidance. This lack of compliance was
observed in the briefings held before the visits and during the
operational activity. I was also concerned to find that the
records of both visits were difficult to follow and lacked clarity
– potentially leaving the Agency open to accusations of poor
professional standards.
"Given these findings, I intend to conduct another
similar short-notice inspection of an arrest team within the next
six months."
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
1. 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.
3. The UK Border Agency was given 24 hours notice of our
intention to inspect an unspecified arrest team in the London
region, primarily to ensure the availability of the Agency cover
officers (responsible for the safety of arresting officers or
observers, such as our inspectors).
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
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