Border Force’s failure to inspect private jets poses a ‘really dangerous risk to security’, a dismissed watchdog warned today.
David Neal, former independent chief inspector of borders and immigration, claimed he would have pushed for a broader review of these arrivals if he had not been let go last month by Home Secretary James Cleverly.
The Mail uncovered how ‘high-risk’ aircraft have been landing at London City airport without security checks.
Mr. Neal expressed concerns that this issue may be happening at other airports that handle private and chartered aircraft, known as ‘general aviation’. He stressed that the delay in appointing his successor could impact the watchdog’s inspection schedule.
Speaking to the Lords justice and home affairs committee, he said: ‘Most worryingly, it means that the remainder of this year’s program isn’t going to be launched. Their experience will not be able to inform next year’s program.’
He also emphasized the need for reform within Border Force.
The Home Office released 13 of Mr. Neal’s reports on the same day last month when findings from an inquiry into Sarah Everard’s murder by police officer Wayne Couzens were made public.
The Home Office has disputed the accuracy of its own figures on high-risk general aviation arrivals.
UK Border Force officers are supposed to check 100 per cent of such flights classified as high-risk. However, data provided to Mr. Neal showed that only 21 per cent of 687 flights were inspected by immigration officers at City airport last year.
This oversight means that criminals, illegal immigrants, trafficking victims, and extremists may have entered the UK without scrutiny.
Mr. Neal informed peers that he had been told not to discuss the contents of his report on City airport, which is set to be published by mid-April.