Border checks were relaxed at 28 ports and airports
15.11.11
Home Secretary Theresa May has revealed the pilot scheme to reduce passport checks on some citizens of EU countries was used at 28 ports and airports over the summer. The details emerged in a response to written questions from the chairman of the Home Affairs Committee, Keith Vaz. Mrs May also revealed that more than 10 million people entered the UK in August when the pilot scheme was operating. The 28 ports and airports at which the authorised pilot was used included Heathrow, Gatwick, Calais, Coquelles, Glasgow, Harwich, Manchester Airport, Aberdeen and Cardiff.
The information was revealed after Brodie Clark, the former head of the UK border force was suspended by Mrs May after being accused of relaxing immigration controls beyond certain limits that she had authorised. The home secretary allowed some checks on European travellers to be relaxed but says Mr Clark went further, scaling back checks on non-EU nationals without her approval. Mr Clark denies acting improperly but later resigned, saying his position had been made ‘untenable’. He is planning to sue for constructive dismissal.
Mrs May has announced there will be three inquiries into what happened, the main one led by the Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency, John Vine. MPs on the Commons Home Affairs Committee are also conducting their own inquiry. Mr Clark is due to be questioned by MPs today.
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