Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration

John Tuckett

Biography

John Tuckett has an extensive background in senior leadership and management roles.

Following a career in the Royal Navy, where he served as a submarine commander, he led major change programmes in the NHS, Ministry of Defence, and Home Office. He later carried out reviews of complex transformation programmes for the Office of Government Commerce, advising on how delivery and outcomes could be improved. He served as Chief Executive of the Marine Management Organisation from 2015 to 2019 and as the Immigration Services Commissioner, with responsibility for regulating the provision of immigration advice in the UK, from 2019 to 2025. 

John took up post as the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration on 3 October 2025.

Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration

The UK Borders Act 2007 directs the Independent Chief Inspector to monitor and report on the efficiency and effectiveness of the immigration, asylum, nationality and customs functions carried out by the Home Secretary and by officials and others on their behalf, in particular:

  • consistency of approach
  • practice and procedure in making decisions
  • the treatment of claimants and applicants
  • certification under section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and asylum act 2002 (c. 41) (unfounded claim)
  • compliance with law about discrimination in the exercise of functions, including reliance on section 19D of the Race Relations Act 1976 (c. 74) (exception for immigration functions)
  • practice and procedure in relation to the exercise of enforcement powers (including powers of arrest, entry, search and seizure)
  • practice and procedure in relation to the prevention, detection and investigation of offences
  • practice and procedure in relation to the conduct of criminal proceedings
  • whether customs functions have been appropriately exercised by the Secretary of State and the Director of Border Revenue
  • the provision of information
  • the handling of complaints, and
  • the content of information about conditions in countries outside the United Kingdom which the Secretary of State compiles and makes available, for purposes connected with immigration and asylum, to immigration officers and other officials

Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration

Previous roles in government

  • Immigration Services Commissioner
    • 2019 to 2025
  • Acting Chief Executive Officer, MMO
    • 2015 to 2019