Extra staff will be employed to join Border Force when the UK leaves the European Union next year.
Home secretary Amber Rudd has confirmed that the government will hire another 1,000 staff for the immigration service following Brexit, which is due to take place in exactly one year, on March 29, 2019.
Rudd said that the Home Office will launch an advertising campaign to help recruit another 1,000 staff “in order to improve the quality of our border and prepare specifically for Brexit”.
Speaking to the Home Affairs Committee on Wednesday (March 28), Rudd added that the extra Border Force staff would be employed around the UK “to make sure that every area is made secure”.
The additional Border Force staff will be funded by a £395 million increase in the Home Office’s budget.
The move has been welcomed by the Karen Dee, CEO of the Airport Operators Association (AOA).
“We welcome the announcement that the government will be recruiting additional Border Force staff as well as the commitment by the home secretary in her evidence to the Home Affairs Committee that the Home Office will step up investment for a smoother experience for visitors at the border,” said Dee.
“The border experience for passengers passing through UK airports has been under pressure in recent years as resources for Border Force have gone down, while passenger numbers went up. This has resulted in longer queues more often in airports.
“It is vital that as we prepare for Brexit, the UK demonstrates we are open for business by providing both a secure and welcoming border experience to legitimate travellers.”
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