Home Office response to ‘poor’ border crossing migrants and ‘overloaded’ system, damning report | Political news
A watchdog report found the Home Office’s response to the number of migrants trying to cross the Channel was “poor” and the system “overburdened”.
The independent chief inspector for borders and immigration, David Neal, said that although the situation was considered “crisis” by Priti Patelof the department, its response has not been effective or effective.
In the preface to the report, Mr Neal said processes were being carried out with “best effort”, which was “not good enough”.
He added that number of incoming channels “was unprecedented” and that “on some days the system was clearly overloaded”.
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“Home Office’s performance in providing an effective and efficient response to the challenge posed by the growing volume of Immigrants Mr. Neal continued.
“In my view, this arises primarily from a refusal to transition from emergency response to rapid to steady state, or business as usual. This refusal includes covers every aspect of the Home Office response.
“Resource systems, processes and roadmaps, which crisis months should become routine, systematized, testable and familiar, have been delivered with ‘effort’. maximum force.’ This is not enough.
“Data, the lifeblood of decision-making, is an undeniably terrible thing. Equipment to perform security checks is often first-generation and unreliable.”
The report’s findings include:
• A total of 227 migrants fled safe hotels between September 2021 and January 2022 and not all were registered with biometrics
• Biometrics, such as fingerprints and photos of visitors, are not always recorded
• Effective protection was sacrificed because of the large number of migrants arriving in small boats
• No interpreters are used, hindering staff’s ability to identify and protect vulnerable migrants
Priti Patel received the report 5 months ago
Mr Neal added that “there is nothing in this report that should come as a surprise to ministers, officials or the workforce”.
The official previously said he was “disappointed” that the heavily delayed report was not released after it was delivered to the Home Secretary on 24 February this year.
The report makes four recommendations. These are:
• Security: Ensure staff are adequately trained and provided with instructions on biometric recording, asset seizure or return procedures and/or intelligence documentation within one month
• Vulnerability: Provide guidance, training and monitoring mechanisms for staff to improve identification of vulnerable migrants within three months
• Information collection and use: Improve record quality, design information, and implement a single, accurate database of information related to three-month migrant arrivals
• Resources: Review operations personnel requirements within three months
Urging the department to make four recommendations, Mr. Neal continued: “A new paradigm of borders and enforcement is essential if our borders are to be secured and effectively address vulnerability. “
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The Home Office said that since the inspection that formed the basis of the report, it had “transformed arrangements for the initial reception and processing of people arriving by small boat through the Channel”, which has address the “core problems” he emphasized. Neal.
A statement read: “There is still work to be done, but much of this report is now historical in nature and the criticisms identified reflect processes and procedures that are not currently being followed under the new operation. .
“However, the Ministry of the Interior noted the factual observations in the report and accepted all the recommendations without rejecting it.
“In many cases, work was done at the time of the inspection to address these issues.”
“Almost all recommendations have now been addressed,” it added.
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Earlier this month, it was confirmed that more than 3,000 people crossed the English Channel by small boat in June as tourist arrivals continue to more than double from 2021.
Sky News data shows that at least 12,700 people have successfully reached the UK in small boats in the first half of 2022, alarming charities and aid organisations.
According to official figures, about 28,526 people crossed the Channel in small boats last year, but this is expected to nearly double by 2022according to a union representing Border Force workers.
