Response to an inspection of Border Force firearms practice
Updated 1 March 2024
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The Home Office response to the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration’s report: An inspection of Border Force practice and procedures in relation to firearms
September - November 2023
The Home Office thanks the Independent Chief Inspector for this report. The inspection took place from September to November 2023, focusing on Border Force practice and procedures in relation to firearms. The Home Office is pleased that the ICIBI reported that it found trainers to be enthusiastic, professional, and motivated, that the internal guidance platform is an excellent tool conducive to operational delivery and that Home Office policy managers engaged constructively and positively with a range of stakeholders. The ICIBI also identified several areas for improvement and has made a total of eight recommendations. The recommendations to some degree mirror the Home Office’s internal findings and plans were already in place to deliver on some of the recommendations with others expedited as a result of this report.
As set out below we are committed to taking forward the recommendations made in the report which the Home Office has fully accepted. Over the course of the next year, the actions taken by Border Force will cause a tightening of procedures as the ICIBI outlines but also lead to increased capability in the management of firearms.
Recommendation 1
Appoint a Border Force Senior Responsible Owner to provide clear strategic direction and ownership of firearms related activity.
Accepted
The Home Office acknowledges the importance of strategic direction in this area and has appointed a Border Force Senior Responsible Owner.
Home Office expected implementation date: In place.
Recommendation 2
Review existing risk management practice to ensure a consistent national standard is maintained for the production, review, oversight and audit of risk assessments, risk registers and safe systems of work.
Accepted
The Home Office has reviewed the management of Border Force strategic risks and has recently addressed this review by adapting the strategic risk register to better reflect business level risk and creating a clearer escalation process. Work to embed streamlined governance which is designed to ensure proactive risk management is underway. Further standardisation of risk assessments and safe systems of work will be undertaken across Border Force to ensure that significant risks are identified, recorded and reviewed in order to ensure consistency and compliance.
Home Office expected implementation date: 01/12/2024
Recommendation 3
Address the firearms risk of Border Force staff conducting searches under immigration or customs powers without completing the Firearms & Explosives Awareness and Recognition (FXAR) training course.
Accepted
The Home Office will proactively manage this risk, ensuring that Border Force Officers have the necessary training in relation to firearms at the point at which it is required. We have already taken steps to increase the numbers of those who have completed the FXAR training course and will take remedial action to ensure that training is prioritised in the areas where it is needed immediately. The training needs analysis being undertaken (recommendation 7) will address gaps in training and capabilities where operational activities would be affected, whilst ensuring that FXAR training for all staff is managed, refreshed and assured. A review schedule will be compiled and executed throughout the next 12 months to ensure training meets the agreed training standards.
Home Office expected implementation date: 01/03/2025
Recommendation 4
Introduce a process to record the issue and expiry date of body armour and ensure that body armour is fit for purpose.
Accepted
The Home Office acknowledges that body armour record keeping in Border Force is inconsistent and will standardise this process.
Home Office expected implementation date: 01/05/2024
Recommendation 5
Review the current Border Force Assurance Expectations, to ensure that all risks in relation to firearms identification, handling, storage, and transport are subject to adequate first and second-line assurance.
Accepted
The Home Office regularly reviews the Border Force Assurance Expectations, most recently in August 2023. This review identified an area where first line assurance checks in relation to firearms could be strengthened, which will be taken forward across Border Force. The next review of the assurance expectations will include a specific focus on the storage of firearms. Border Force maintains a mature and effective second line assurance function.
Home Office expected implementation date: 31/08/2024
Recommendation 6
Ensure that all national Border Force firearms policy and guidance documents have a clearly defined owner, are subject to regular time-bound reviews and are readily available to operational frontline staff.
Accepted
Work is already underway to review all operational firearms policies, with the first expected to be completed by 31 December 2023. All others will be reviewed in 2024 with a rolling review programme to follow.
Home Office expected implementation date: 01/04/2024
Recommendation 7
Conduct a firearms training needs analysis and review of existing national training provision to define the mandatory attendance requirements and to ensure that the quality and availability of training delivery meets the demand.
Accepted
The Home Office will conduct a training needs analysis of existing content, set standards around attendance and where appropriate work with the training supplier to update the existing learning product. In addition, the Home Office will consider what additional training is required once the outcome of the training needs analysis is known and this learning will be incorporated into the curriculum to support and enhance the skills and capability of officers.
Home Office expected implementation date: 01/12/2024
Recommendation 8
Develop and implement a continuous professional development plan for all Make Safe Officers, ensuring that there is a mechanism in place to access technical support.
Accepted
The Home Office will carry out a full training needs analysis of the existing FXAR learning pathway to identify learning required for this role and will identify and introduce new learning, where appropriate. Following completion of this analysis, a capability assessment will be carried out to determine the current knowledge and skill levels of Make Safe Officers to establish where development gaps exist and develop a plan to increase their capability. A new programme of continuous skills assessment is due to be introduced in 2024 which will ensure that continuous assessment of those in highly skilled roles is consistent across the organisation. Further work will be carried out with the External Training Supplier, Leeds Armouries to ensure their training package meets the needs of Border Force and is amended as appropriate following the training needs analysis.
Home Office expected implementation date: 01/12/2024