Scotland is now ‘an open door’ for terrorists

‘People are getting into the UK who shouldn’t be’

SCOTLAND is becoming a ‘back door into Britain’ for terrorists, illegal immigrants and criminal gangs because of a lack of security, according to officials.

Groups of undocumented travellers are allegedly bypassing UK border controls using ferry routes between Northern Ireland to Cairnryan and Loch Ryan in Wigtownshire.

An investigation by The Scottish Mail on Sunday found passengers on the Stena Line and P&O services are not routinely checked for passports amid claims of understaffing.

It follows a National Crime Agency (NCA) report last month which warned ‘high harm foreign national offenders’ were exploiting the lack of border checks to travel between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and then onto the UK mainland in Scotland.

Police Scotland is responsible for monitoring ports via its Border Policing Command. Units are based at all major airports and sea ports. Customs officers on the Northern Ireland-Scotland routes were axed by the Home Office in 2011 as part of a cost-cutting exercise, leaving local police to carry out immigration checks and counterterrorism duties.

Calum Steele of the Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said: ‘It is like leaving your back door open and complaining when someone comes into your house. It is not a police responsibility. It’s manifestly unfair to expect the police service in Scotland to discharge the duties of the UK Border Force. It was an illogical decision at the time and no one took into account the consequences.

‘With all the narrative currently being about “taking back control” and the Repub- lic of Ireland going to be protecting the EU-UK border, it shows how chaotic the whole arrangement is. There is an absolute vulnerability to the UK just now.’

A source close to the Scottish ports told the MoS: ‘There are fewer shifts each day and fewer police officers and dog handlers to cover each shift, which means when two ferries come in close together, it’s a nightmare to try to cover both. Most of the time, it’s just not possible. Without a doubt, some people are getting into the UK who shouldn’t be.’

The Home Office’s withdrawal of three customs officers in 2011 was condemned by the then Dumfries and Galloway Chief Constable Pat Shearer.

Foreign nationals arrested in the past at Cairnryan and Loch Ryan have been identified as being from 3 countries, several recognised as significant security risks to the UK. These include Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Somalia and Eritrea.

Detective Chief Superintendent Gerry McLean, head of Police Scotland’s Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit, denied there had been a reduction in the number of officers covering the ports since the single force took over in 2013, adding: ‘We adopt an intelligence-led approach towards threats such as organised immigration crime and terrorism. Much of this work is co-ordinated and delivered in partnership with our policing colleagues in Northern Ireland.’