UK Border Agency publishes Common Travel Area report

Here's another update from the UK Border Agency.

"The UK Border Agency has today published a report reviewing the new border arrangements at Northern Ireland sea ports.

In November 2010, we ended the secondment of 3 police officers from Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary, when responsibility for identifying illegal migrants travelling between the West of Scotland and Northern Ireland sea ports transferred to our local immigration team in Northern Ireland.

The report outlines the emerging findings from our initial review of the new arrangements, and assesses their impact over the period 1 January and 30 April 2011. It concludes that the new arrangements have been successful in increasing the number of immigration offenders detected by both agencies, although further development is needed.

Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary have been consulted on the report and its recommendations. Since the review, both agencies have agreed a 10-point plan of action to improve coordination and liaison. The measures will be introduced during August and September 2011.

The report recommends (and both agencies agree) that a further assessment should be conducted and reported on early in 2012.

Phil Taylor, our regional director for Scotland and Northern Ireland, said:

'I am pleased that the new system has resulted in a marked increase in the detection of immigration offenders, with significant numbers of these cases being detected in Northern Ireland. In the 4 months from January to April 2011, a total of 102 immigration offenders were detected at Scottish and Northern Ireland sea ports. That represents a 65 per cent increase on the same period in 2010.' "

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