Airport weapons risk needs re-assessed

The new report by the Independent Chief Inspector of the UKBA John Vine also found considerable gaps in UKBA’s assessment of the threat of the illegal importation of weapons, drugs and people via Northern Ireland’s 320 mile land border with the Republic of Ireland along which there are 302 recognised border points of potential use to smugglers and terrorists

‘Inspection of the UK Border Agency in Scotland and Northern Ireland: Border Operations August 2010 – January 2011’

also noted a considerable risk from small air and seaports across both Northern Ireland and Scotland with just 63 of 683 threat assesments having been conducted in total and none having been conducted since 2008.

Mr Vine stated: “Flights from Belfast City Airport and the City of Derry Airport had been designated low risk, using historical knowledge, with the exception of one flight identified as a weapons risk.

“What may have been low risk flights based on local knowledge and historic results, may no longer be the case. We saw little evidence of the risk assessments being refreshed.”

The Sentinel asked UKBA if someone had tried to use Eglinton airport to export guns or weapons to Great Britain.

A UK Border Agency spokesperson refused to give any details of the risk assessment stating: “We do not comment

on specific risk assessments for operational reasons.

“Our intelligence led approach to risk assessment relates normally to specific flights, vessels or activities not the location and we continuously review our tactics to ensure that our resources are deployed appropriately to meet any threat to our borders.”

Mr Vine also advised UKBA should assess the multiple risks posed through small ports and also found that very few risk assessments had taken place in 2009-10.

“Only one risk assessment had been undertaken for the whole of Northern Ireland (of an airfield on 23 March 2009). The assessment clearly identified risks of flights from abroad not being notified to Border Force,” he stated.

He recommended that the Agency devise a strategy to address the threat posed to the border by illicit commodities and people through small ports.

According to the inspection report City of Derry Airport commented on a “strong three-way relationship with the Agency and PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland).”

His main recommendations for tightened security were the deployment of resources effectively to maintain the control of illicit commodities with the staffing of the Primary Checkpoint; the identification of intelligence gaps to improve the intelligence picture to better inform the risks to the border; the publication of plans and strategies in a timely manner to inform staff and allow more effective targeting of resources; the creation of a strategy to address the threat posed to the border by illicit commodities and people through small ports; the placement of comprehensive written guidance for staff dealing with General Aviation, including compliance visits; the providison of feedback from frontline staff to inform the targeting process; and the initiation of a multi-agency approach to risk assessing small ports, working with the police, port operators and any other relevant organisations.