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08/11/2011
May Faces Committee Over Border Relaxation
The Home Secretary is to face a committee of MPs on Tuesday, to discuss the revelations she advised a relaxation of border controls during the Olympics.
On Monday, Theresa May admitted she had authorised officials at the agency to relax security procedures, such as passport checks, on some travellers coming into the country.
However, she says the checks on non-EU nationals were then scaled back further, without ministerial approval.
The Labour party has accused the minister of "passing the buck" on the issue. Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday evening, Yvette Cooper said it was no good blaming the previous government or officials, "this is her watch, these are her decisions and her government’s mistakes", the Labour minister said.
"We now know that 6,500 staff are being cut from the Border Agency, including 1,500 from the Border Force and we need to know what pressure officials were put under to cut corners as a result to keep queues down with reduced staff.
"The truth is that instead of strengthening the checks year on year as all previous Ministers had committed to do, this Home Secretary decided to water them down as official government policy, even though she never told this House.
Mrs May has ordered an inquiry into the claims identity checks on travellers from outside Europe were scaled back in the summer, beyond what ministers had agreed in a pilot scheme.
In a statement to MPs on Monday, Mrs May said those responsible would be punished. Brodie Clark, head of the UK border force, is among three staff suspended.
Mrs May's appearance before the home affairs committee was originally arranged before the issue emerged. She was due to speak about the new National Crime Agency and the summer riots.
(DW)
On Monday, Theresa May admitted she had authorised officials at the agency to relax security procedures, such as passport checks, on some travellers coming into the country.
However, she says the checks on non-EU nationals were then scaled back further, without ministerial approval.
The Labour party has accused the minister of "passing the buck" on the issue. Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday evening, Yvette Cooper said it was no good blaming the previous government or officials, "this is her watch, these are her decisions and her government’s mistakes", the Labour minister said.
"We now know that 6,500 staff are being cut from the Border Agency, including 1,500 from the Border Force and we need to know what pressure officials were put under to cut corners as a result to keep queues down with reduced staff.
"The truth is that instead of strengthening the checks year on year as all previous Ministers had committed to do, this Home Secretary decided to water them down as official government policy, even though she never told this House.
Mrs May has ordered an inquiry into the claims identity checks on travellers from outside Europe were scaled back in the summer, beyond what ministers had agreed in a pilot scheme.
In a statement to MPs on Monday, Mrs May said those responsible would be punished. Brodie Clark, head of the UK border force, is among three staff suspended.
Mrs May's appearance before the home affairs committee was originally arranged before the issue emerged. She was due to speak about the new National Crime Agency and the summer riots.
(DW)
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Sixty-eight immigrants have been found locked inside a shipping container at a port in Essex, it has been confirmed. East of England Ambulance Service said they had been discovered at Harwich International Port at around 10pm on Thursday, 4 June.
10 May 2012
Heathrow Waiting Times Criticised
John Vine, chief inspector of Borders and Immigration, has criticised Heathrow airport, blaming its long queues on organisational changes and a lack of planning, an inspector says.
Heathrow Waiting Times Criticised
John Vine, chief inspector of Borders and Immigration, has criticised Heathrow airport, blaming its long queues on organisational changes and a lack of planning, an inspector says.
27 April 2015
Nine Arrested Over Drug Seizure On Tugboat
Nine men have been arrested in connection with cocaine found onboard an ocean-going tugboat in the North Sea. The National Crime Agency said that intelligence received led to a joint operation with Border Force and the Royal Navy, to intercept MV Hamal, around 100 miles off the coast of Aberdeenshire.
Nine Arrested Over Drug Seizure On Tugboat
Nine men have been arrested in connection with cocaine found onboard an ocean-going tugboat in the North Sea. The National Crime Agency said that intelligence received led to a joint operation with Border Force and the Royal Navy, to intercept MV Hamal, around 100 miles off the coast of Aberdeenshire.
07 February 2012
Drug Dealer Jailed For 12 Years
A drug smuggler who imported herbal cannabis with a street value of £2.1m was sentenced yesterday, Monday 6 February, to 12 years imprisonment. Alexander Odewale, 44 (23.09.
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03 September 2008
Drugs Worth £4.5m Uncovered
A man is to appear in court today charged with attempting to smuggle heroin worth an estimated street value of £4.5 million into the UK.
Drugs Worth £4.5m Uncovered
A man is to appear in court today charged with attempting to smuggle heroin worth an estimated street value of £4.5 million into the UK.
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