May: I never authorised relaxed border controls

Monday, 7 November 2011 5:19 PM

Home secretary Theresa May pledges an investigation of the UK Border Agency after it emerged border controls were relaxed this summer:

"The pilots run by the UK Border Force this summer were designed to improve border security, by focusing resources at passengers and journeys that intelligence led officers to believe posed the greatest risk.

"The vast majority of those officers are hard-working, dedicated public servants. Just like all of us, they want to see tough immigration controls and strong enforcement. But they have been let down by senior officials at the head of the organisation who put at risk the security of our border.

"Our task now is to make sure that those responsible are punished and to make sure that Border Force officials can never take such risks with border security again. That is what I am determined to do." 

Tags:
• immigration
,
• theresa may
,
• ukba