Inspector’s report finds penalty scheme for deterring clandestine entry is still lacking

The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration has published the report on “An inspection of the Border Force operation to deter and detect clandestine entrants“. The inspection took place between August and November 2024.

In his 2018 inspection the chief inspector found that no fines had been given to anyone found to have a clandestine entrant in their vehicle since 2016 and the situation was described as broken and in need of urgent attention. In 2019 Border Force had indicated that it was taking action on issues, however in this inspection it was reported that despite the extension of the scheme and substantial increase in potential penalties “the team is still not staffed appropriately and does not have the systems required to run the scheme efficiently and effectively”.

The following recommendations were made (I have put next to it whether or not the Home Office accepted the recommendation in its response):

Recommendation 1: Designate a Home Office-wide ‘owner’ for clandestine entry, with overall responsibility for the efficiency and effectiveness of the Migration and Border System’s efforts to deter, detect, and manage clandestine entry to the UK, including responsibility for ensuring that recommended improvements are implemented and embedded. (Accepted by the Home Office with a target of October 2026)

Recommendation 2: Review the range of analyses, assessments, and intelligence products dealing with clandestine entry that are currently produced and check (at least quarterly) with ‘end users’ that these support strategic and tactical decision making, including decisions about resources, investments, and operational deployments. (Partially accepted by the Home Office with a target of March 2026)

Recommendation 3: Overhaul training provision for frontline Border Force officers at the juxtaposed ports to ensure that they are as far as possible multi-functional and can be deployed flexibly. (Partially accepted by the Home Office with a target of March 2026)

Recommendation 4: Install an integrated Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system linking the juxtaposed controls at Calais, Coquelles, and Dunkerque, enabling real-time checking of all vehicles arriving in the UK control zones against Home Office watchlists and the sharing of vehicle information between the three ports and with UK ports. (Not accepted by the Home Office)

Recommendation 5: Within three months of the introduction of the new Integrated Platform Management (IPM) system, conduct a root-and-branch review of the Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Team (CECPT) working practices and processes. (Accepted by the Home Office with a target of March 2026)

Recommendation 6: Produce and publish an ‘engagement plan’ for industry stakeholders, which includes seeking regular feedback about the impacts that the Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Scheme (CECPS) is having on drivers, owners, and hirers of vehicles, and starting with ‘quick wins’. (Partially accepted by the Home Office with a target of March 2026)

Recommendation 7: Produce and publish an annual report on how the CECPS is working, informed by the feedback received from drivers, owners, and hirers of vehicles (not limited to industry stakeholders). (Partially accepted by the Home Office with a target of March 2026)

The chief inspector stated that “the relationship between small boats and clandestine entry through the juxtaposed ports is not well understood. This needs more attention, not least to get ahead of any displacement effect if new measures to reduce small boat crossings begin to work”. This seems a more practical step than much of what the government is trying at the moment in relation to small boat crossings.