Brexit: Border Force to open two new processing centres for 'high-risk' customs arrivals in Milton Keynes and Hayes

Officials working to 'minimise the potential disruption that may occur at the border and ensure a smooth and orderly exit'

Two new processing centres are to be opened in Hayes and Milton Keynes to handle “high-risk” customs arrivals after Brexit.

Paul Lincoln OBE, director-general of Border Force, said the centres would be set up regardless of whether a security deal is reached with the European Union (EU) or its terms.

Speaking at a police conference in central London, he said the government had ordered the “acceleration of no-deal preparations” but added: “We are still confident that we can secure a deal with the EU.”

Mr Lincoln told senior officers and police and crime commissioners it was working to “minimise the potential disruption that may occur at the border and ensure a smooth and orderly exit”.

He was speaking a day after being accused of “not being straight” with MPs over the security consequences of a no-deal Brexit.

The Border Force is to prioritise security, followed by the flow of people and goods, and then revenue.

“We're implementing a number of different projects, which are both at the border but also to minimise activity at the border, to include inland clearance sites,” Mr Lincoln said. “For example, the government has already announced two new inland clearance sites – one at Hayes [west London] and one at Milton Keynes, which is to do new checks away from the border.”

A National Audit Office report on border preparedness, which was released last week, said the facilities would target “the 50 current highest-risk traders from the rest of the world”.

It added: “If there is ‘no deal’, it will also use these sites for compliance activity relating to high risk EU traders. HMRC does not expect to use these facilities to undertake checks relating to other intelligence-led risks, but they could be used in certain circumstances if required.”

Border Force is already recruiting staff in Milton Keynes and Hayes. It is taking on a 300-strong “readiness taskforce” for Brexit and another 600 extra staff.

Mr Lincoln said “stringent leave restrictions” have been imposed in the months before and after Britain leaves the EU in March 2019.

He added: “This wasn't a popular measure with my 8,190 staff but it was something we decided needed to be done given this was a momentous occasion for the country. The last time did this was for the 2012 London Olympics, which was a slightly different experience.”

The Metropolitan Police is among the forces preparing for potential disorder at British ports in the event of a no-deal Brexit, which could spark protests and significant traffic jams.

Earlier this year a leaked document prepared by the National Police Coordination Centre revealed the “real possibility” of police calling on the military to help with civil disorder caused by a no-deal Brexit.

It warned of traffic queues at ports and said concerns around medical supplies could “feed civil disorder”, while a rise in the price of goods could also lead to “widespread protest” and trigger crimes such as theft.

All arms of the British criminal justice system and law enforcement are facing a huge loss of intelligence if Britain loses access to databases including the Schengen Information System (SIS II), and the European Arrest Warrant.

Authorities have been collaborating on contingency plans to replace the Europe-wide tools currently used but admit alternatives would be “sub-optimal”, slower and potentially make the public less secure.

Lord Bach, who sits on the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners' Brexit working group, said European officials had made it “absolutely crystal clear is that there is no chance of a deal being made on security and policing before March 2019”.

“It would have to take place, if it is to be made at all, in the transition period to the end of December 2020,” he added.

Sir Philip Rutnam, permanent secretary to the Home Office, said a no-deal scenario was “not impossible” but said: “We remain confident that we will reach a deal. The mutual self-interest is overwhelming.”