Response to an inspection of Border Force's fast parcels operations
Published 29 February 2024
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Date of inspection: May to July 2023
The Home Office thanks the Independent Chief Inspector for this report. The inspection took place throughout June and July 2023, focusing on Border Force’s Fast Parcel operations.
The Home Office acknowledges that the Fast Parcel environment is complex and strong engagement with commercial partners is key. Our aim is to provide a professional and adaptable service which protects the public by providing a secure border, whilst facilitating legitimate travel and trade.
We have already taken a number of steps to address ICIBI findings in the fast parcel environment. We have secured next generation drug trace and chemical detection equipment for all modes, including fast parcels and postal, purchased new baggage x-ray scanners which will be operational in the autumn and developed our approach to detection Learning and Development by launching a new online training platform. Project teams are continuing to look at innovative solutions to meet the unique challenges of this operating environment.
The ICIBI has made a total of ten recommendations. The Home Office has fully accepted six recommendations, partially accepted three and not accepted one recommendation.
Recommendation 1
Review the Border Force Operating Mandate in order to refresh the direction to BF.
Accepted
Work to update the Operating Mandate (OM) to reflect recent and upcoming changes is ongoing, and the Border Policy and International Migration Directorate (BPIM) has established an Operating Mandate Review Board, as well as supporting working groups on goods and passengers, to facilitate and provide the necessary governance for an ongoing review process.
A ‘Mandate Statement Review’ has recently been commenced, which will include not only a review of the current OM, but an assessment of all Border Force requirements, generated by all Departments, across the five border systems. The review will seek to clarify, collate and cohere the requirements placed on BF to provide a basis upon which BF can assess its funding and resourcing needs to be able to deliver against these requirements, and recommend a coherent and evidence-based approach to prioritisation.
This Mandate Statement Review is one component of wider BF-led work, including a refresh of the BF Operating Model, Border Transformation, preparation for upcoming technological changes at the border, and an exploration of productivity and efficiency gains.
Home Office expected implementation date: The Mandate Statement Review will be concluded end March 2024.
Recommendation 2
Conduct a review of Central Region resourcing to ensure it is able to fully address the threat posed by Fast Parcels.
Partially accepted
Staffing models are regularly reviewed at Fast Parcel locations alongside wider threats posed across all modes of traffic. Border Force Central Region has recently implemented a new system of management information which supports the planning of operational resources. This identifies resource shortfalls and allows for a dynamic assessment of resource in order to match the level of resilience against the assessed level of risk. Central region will continue to evaluate and refine resourcing to maximise its capability to manage the risks posed in the Fast Parcel mode.
Home Office expected implementation date: 01/05/2024
Recommendation 3
Establish a baseline understanding of the levels of prohibited and restricted items in fast parcels to be able to measure Border Force’s operational effectiveness.
Partially accepted
Border Force most recently undertook work of this nature in fast parcel and postal modes in 2019 which provided a baseline understanding. A refresh of this work will be considered in future, but this will be subject to operational and strategic priorities.
Home Office expected implementation date: 01/09/2024
Recommendation 4
Introduce a digital solution to record all fast parcels examinations in real time, including the reasons for examinations to provide managers with sufficient management information to plan and assure activity.
Accepted
The Home Office will identify digital systems to support fast parcels examination work as part of the wider design to capture Fast Parcels examinations. This includes trialling a new method of recording parcel examinations with greater detail which will be held centrally and will provide improved management information and ability to assure the activity.
Home Office expected implementation date: 01/11/2024
Recommendation 5
Designate a single national team to manage detection equipment who should:
- conduct an updated end-user focused review to establish a baseline of detection equipment
- procure, install, and maintain the range and levels of detection equipment required
- manage detection equipment through the entire life cycle from procurement to disposal, including providing specialist training to end-user
Partially accepted
The Home Office recognises that central structures that enable and support front-line fast parcel detection require improvement. This is being reviewed within the Border Force goods transformation programme which sets the vision for the goods border and the required capabilities to meet that vision. Detection is a significant part of this broader work.
Home Office expected implementation date: Initial review of central detection functions and associated recommendations for future model to be completed by April 2025
Recommendation 6
Review current methodologies for the search and transportation of suspected prohibited and restricted goods to:
- ensure the nature of any goods are fully established before transporting them so that any health and safety and legal risks are properly mitigated
- ensure safety equipment required to examine or transport hazardous goods is available at the point of examination.
Accepted
A review of current safe systems of working and risk assessments will be conducted for Fast Parcel activity focusing on transport and safe search practices. A review of the health and safety equipment at fast parcel locations and in operational vehicles will also be completed.
Home Office expected implementation date: 01/05/2024
Recommendation 7
Work with industry and other government departments to improve the provision of fast parcel data from all operators to enable intelligence-based targeting.
Accepted
The Home Office have recently created the Data Tasking and Co-Ordination Group as a route for Border Force teams to raise taskings to address data needs. We are developing an IT capability for Safety & Security compliance enabling us to monitor and identify data compliance issues.
The Home Office are working closely with HMRC the policy owners for Safety & Security as well as on their review of Bulk Import Reduced Data Set (BIRDS) and other issues raised in the report. Moreover, we will engage further with the Express Operator and Fast Parcel Operators along with their representative body AICES to discuss how to better work together and identify an appropriate format/forum to discuss data issues, but also broader issues identified in recommendation 10.
Home Office expected implementation date: 01/04/2025
Recommendation 8
Work with His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs to obtain management information from Centaur for goods seized from fast parcels.
Not accepted
We work closely with partner agencies such as His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs in relation to systems owned outside of Border Force. The Home Office has in place a system for recording seized goods information, from which management information can be obtained. Centaur is due to be decommissioned and information migrated across allowing access to historical information. In the interim, the financial cost of regaining access would prove to be counterproductive when long term work towards the solution is ongoing.
Recommendation 9
Set and assure performance expectations for all staff working in fast parcels.
Accepted
The Home Office will conduct a review of skill sets held for all operational Fast Parcel staff. Central Region will standardise and tailor the performance goals for individuals working in the Fast Parcel environment. This will be implemented for the 2024/25 performance plan and embed over the reporting year.
Home Office expected implementation date: 01/11/2024
Recommendation 10
Establish a national working group to better engage with its wide range of external stakeholders working in fast parcels, focused on:
- aligning government and industry strategies, where possible
- creating consistent and regular communication channels and feedback mechanisms
Accepted
The Home Office will establish a more joined up and cohesive multi-agency and trade working group or groups in order to improve the way it works with external stakeholders. Work is already underway to develop the relationship with the UK trade body for UK Express operators to discuss how best to progress towards a stronger relationship. The outcomes will be fed out to the frontline and intelligence leads with a view to having all appropriate units involved with further meetings with other interested bodies to follow.