Findings from two new inspection reports include encouraging improvements at Western Jet Foil and Manston, but much remains to be done
Two new inspection report were published last week by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI).
The 82-page 'A re-inspection of the initial processing of migrants arriving via small boats, including at Western Jet Foil and Manston (January – February 2023)' can be downloaded from here.
Previous inspections of the facilities in Kent were carried out by the ICIBI in February and October of last year.
The ICIBI finds in its new report that conditions have improved significantly, which is encouraging, but much remains to be done.
David Neal, the Independent Chief Inspector, said: "Overall, I was encouraged to find in this inspection that the performance of the Home Office has improved since my first inspection of operations at the port of Dover and since my visit to Manston. At the same time, the department must not succumb to complacency, as much work remains to be done. Systems and procedures for the initial processing of arrivals appeared to be working much better than during the previous inspection as a result of the shift to Manston, which has more space that can be used more flexibly than Western Jet Foil. However, it is highly doubtful that the facilities and processes in place at present would be sufficient to handle the large numbers of people expected over the coming weeks and months."
He continued: "The challenge for the [Home Office] now is to maintain and consolidate this progress, as the picture is not all positive, and serious risks remain. Though a relatively small number of arrivals was flowing smoothly through the Western Jet Foil and Manston sites at the time of this inspection, the capacity is not in place to process a large number of people arriving over a short period of time, particularly if – as might well be expected – sufficient onward accommodation is not immediately available. This difficulty is exacerbated by the lack of end-to-end ownership of the asylum process, with the officials responsible for the initial processing of small boat arrivals having no control over, or insight into, arrangements for accommodation for those leaving Manston. Further expansion plans, including the opening of a residential holding room facility where arrivals can be detained for up to 96 hours, are being implemented to build greater resilience, but these will take several months to become operational, and when they do, they will not have been tested by challenging numbers."
The inspection found that data collection remains a major challenge.
David Neal noted: "A very serious concern is that the data which the Home Office collects, and upon which it relies, as it carries out the initial processing of small boat arrivals, remains 'inexcusably awful', as I said in my last inspection report. Though data remains woeful, what has changed is a new command team who accepts this and is determined to bring some rigour and honesty to the realities of a really complex, challenging summer ahead. The collection and maintenance of consistent, accurate, and reliable data will be vital in underpinning a continued focus on the identification of vulnerable migrants – a focus that must be maintained even when numbers increase, pressure rises, and specialist staff are stretched."
While Neal said he was confident that the inspection showed the Home Office has started to "get its act together", he questioned why this had taken so long and why only now was there any sense of the kind of planning and operational delivery he would expect to see.
The second report published last week is the 76-page 'A re-inspection of Border Force's management of Project KRAKEN at small seaports (January – February 2023)'. It can be accessed from here.
As the ICIBI noted in 2021, Project Kraken is a long-standing multi-agency initiative which aims to counter the threats from serious and organised crime, including smuggling, immigration crime and terrorism, around the UK's coastline. It was introduced in 2008 and was relaunched last year.
David Neal explained: "Border Force relaunched Project KRAKEN in July 2022, unfortunately missing the peak of the recreational boating season, and I received mixed feedback about the relaunch's success during engagement with stakeholders. While further work is needed to increase the volume and quality of intelligence received through the project, the number of reports received following its relaunch is at its highest level ever. While this is clearly positive, the Home Office needs to do more to track the outcomes of intelligence generated through the project and measure its effectiveness.
"My inspectors agreed with stakeholders' views that the Border Force staff who managed the relaunch and oversee the project are enthusiastic and hard-working. However, my inspectors saw evidence of the project's new publicity materials in only four of the nine harbours and marinas they visited during the re-inspection (with some displayed just days before their visits). It is perhaps unsurprising that Field Intelligence Officers have limited time to dedicate to promoting Project KRAKEN alongside their primary role. More time is undoubtedly needed to publicise the relaunch more widely, but Border Force also needs an effective engagement strategy to ensure that awareness raising is as far-reaching and effective as possible. My inspectors found no evidence of such a strategy."