Federation reaction to new Border Control Force

03 April 2008

Responding to the government’s implementation of the boarder force today, Alan Gordon vice Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales said:

Whilst the Police Federation recognises the need to effectively police our borders it is a complete nonsense to us that a new Border Control Force does not involve the police.

When the idea of a Border Force was first spoken about we thought it would be a new unit not an amalgamation of existing Immigration Customs and giving them a uniform.

This is yet another example of this government reforming things without properly thinking it through or providing the necessary training or resources.

We believe that police officers should be at the heart of any border force with either a new Border Police Force being set up or for forces with ports and airports within their boundaries to have dedicated border police units together with collaborative arrangements with other ports.

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