UK border 'not ready for no-deal Brexit' - report
Eleven out of the 12 big projects to replace or change key border systems are at risk of being inadequate or unfinished.
Wednesday 24 October 2018 05:47, UK
The UK border may not be ready for a "no-deal" Brexit scenario, according to the National Audit Office.
The watchdog says that, with just over five months before the UK is due to leave the European Union, the government must replace critical IT systems, boost border staff numbers and build new infrastructure to track goods.
Sir Amyas Morse, the head of the NAO, said: "Government has openly accepted the border will be suboptimal if there is no deal with the EU on 29 March 2019.
"It is not clear what suboptimal means in practice, or how long this will last.
"But what is clear is that businesses and individuals who are reliant on the border running smoothly will pay the price."
Even if a deal is reached and there is an implementation period until the end of 2020, there would still be "significant work" needed, the NAO said.
Its report says that 11 out of the 12 major projects to replace or change key border systems were, as of last month, at risk of not being finished on time or of "acceptable quality".
The new infrastructure needed to track and examine goods cannot be built before March, and the resources needed to operate the border may also not be ready in time.
The NAO blamed political uncertainty and delays in talks between the UK and EU for the problems and warned that any gaps could be exploited by criminal gangs after Brexit.
"Government's assumption that the risks will not change materially on day one is reasonable in the short term but organised criminals and others are likely to be quick to exploit any perceived weaknesses or gaps in the enforcement regime.
"This, combined with the UK's potential loss of access to EU security, law enforcement and criminal justice tools, could create security weaknesses which the government would need to address urgently."
The Federation of Small Businesses national chairman Mike Cherry said the report was "deeply troubling".
He added: "With less than six months before exit day, it is dreamland stuff to think that we will be anywhere near having the infrastructure needed to track and examine goods at the border.
"The likelihood is that our small business traders will face delays for goods crossing the border, while also being hit with extra costs associated to new customs arrangements and tracking requirements."
A government spokeswoman said: "Extensive work to prepare for a no deal has been well under way for almost two years and we have robust plans in place to ensure the border continues to operate from the day we leave.
"Future IT systems and infrastructure are already being built and, as they do today, HMRC will continue to apply an automated, risk-based approach to customs checks.
"This means any increase in the number of checks will be kept to a minimum.
"We will always ensure we have the necessary resources to keep the border secure, and that's why we're recruiting approximately 600 Border Force officers to prepare for the day we leave the EU, in addition to the 300 officers which will be deployed by the end of the year."
