UK Border Security: Issues, systems and recent reforms

A submission to the ippr Commission on National Security for the 21st Century.

Issues of border security feature frequently in contemporary British politics as major public policy problems. Among the areas of concern are terrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking and people smuggling, the need to exercise controls for human, plant and animal health protection and the illicit trade in weapons.

This paper evaluates the National Security Strategy approach and aspirations regarding border security. In particular, this paper reviews current UK border strategy, examines trends in global movements with special regard to the UK's position and then considers three priority areas of UK border strategy:

• people movement controls
• drug trafficking controls
• anti-terrorism controls.

The paper also considers after-entry controls or responses, recognising that there will continue to be illicit entries of people and controlled goods and the need to manage the asylum request process in order to effect the removal of those persons whose claims are not accepted or given leave to remain on other grounds.