Border controls are a ‘failure’, says outgoing immigration chief
BRITAIN’S outgoing borders watchdog boss has accused the Home Office of a lack of leadership over immigration.
John Vine is to resign seven months earlier than planned after regular criticisms over falling standards at passport control and poor handling of asylum cases.
He warned yesterday: “There needs to be an improvement in leadership and management skills.”
There needs to be an improvement in leadership
Mr Vine also said immigration “has become very political and a toxic mix of issues”.
He became the first independent chief inspector of borders and immigration when the post was created six years ago.
The former chief constable of Tayside exposed huge case backlogs and failures in border controls. A Home Office spokesman said: “John Vine’s reports showed the system we inherited could not cope with the uncontrolled immigration under the previous government.
“We brought the immigration system under ministerial oversight. This was the right decision and is already bearing fruit.”
Meanwhile, Deputy PM Nick Clegg has come under fire for saying EU countries should have the power to bring in tougher immigration controls.
But Tory chairman Grant Shapps accused him of “privately blocking many of the same measures he is now apparently advocating”.