In a comprehensive announcement on the future of the UK border, Home Secretary Priti Patel outlined plans to start rolling out safe “contactless” border crossings.
In order to speed up legitimate travel to the UK, the Home Office is about to start testing technology that would let some travellers enter the country and go through automated border screening without passing through an eGate or speaking with a Border Force officer.
Instead, the travellers would go through pre-screening and be identified at the border using cutting-edge technology, guaranteeing the safety of the border and the citizens of the UK.
In 2024, the Home Office plans to start conducting pilot tests.
The news is a part of the New Plan for Immigration: Migration and Border Control Strategy statement, which was released together with plans for a pilot programme to lower the minimum age requirement for eGates from 12 to 10 years old, which weJustre also revealed by the Home Secretary.
The change would shorten families’ travel times in the UK.
Priti Patel, the home secretary, said:
With the help of my New Plan for Immigration, I have focused my efforts as Home Secretary on regaining control of our immigration system.
This includes making sure that our border is modern and functional, enabling travellers to obtain visas and cross the border without difficulty while upholding national security.
As part of my commitment to defending our border from those who want to damage the UK, I also want to make sure that our excellent Border Force has access to the most modern automation tools.
The extensive Independent Review of Border Force, which the Home Secretary commissioned Alexander Downer, a former Australian immigration minister, to do in February 2022, was also released today by the Home Office.
Some recommendations are:
a distinct voice and identity for Border Force within the Home Office, a new advisory board to take into account the demands placed on Border Force supported by improved capability planning, a single minister for Border Force, a revised learning strategy, improved career pathways for staff, and training for staff through a Border Force Academy equity in the workforce to enable delivery of the Border Force mission.
Downer stated:
While defending our national security, Border Force must deal with exceptional obstacles such as persons entering the UK unlawfully via small boats, immigration fraud, contraband drugs, weapons, and organised crime.
Everyone I encountered at Border Force, from the top management to operation managers and frontline officers, is without a doubt fully devoted to protecting the UK and wants the organisation to develop so they can continue to be the best at fending off both existing and emerging threats.
The suggestions I’ve given will benefit Border Force by strengthening its ability to handle present issues and giving them the direction they need to make the necessary adjustments.
The New Plan for Immigration: Migration and Border Control Strategy explains how a digital border will simplify travel, boost security, and establish the UK as a pioneer in lawful immigration.
With a focus on enhancing the end-to-end customer journey and our vision for the future border, the release of today’s Statement establishes the overarching plan for the next three years.
It expands on our current goal of making the UK border the most effective in the world, as stated in the 2025 UK Border Strategy.
The new border will make it more difficult for people who represent a threat to enter the UK and more convenient for people who support our economy to pass through it without incident.
Our ETA programme will make it simpler for our friends to visit and contribute to the UK while making it more difficult for people we don’t want to visit to do so.
The government will continue to make changes over the next years to maintain our system for legal immigration and border control as one of the best in the world.
These range from overt modifications like enhanced customer service before applicants to covert modifications like better border targeting.
More overseas travellers will be able to use eGates with the help of electronic travel authorizations.
With better access to the eVisas required for travel, digital customer accounts will aid customers applying for visas in having a more efficient experience.
With the use of this new, digital system, we will be able to learn more about visitors to the UK before they arrive, which will enhance border security and decrease wait times.