Border job cutbacks ‘allow fake goods to flood UK’

THE amount of fake goods being smuggled into Britain is soaring as a result of cuts to Border Force staff, experts warn.

The number of items seized at UK ports and airports has fallen by more than 55 per cent since 2011, according to the AntiCounterfeiting Group (ACG).

The drop has coincided with budget reductions at Border Force, meaning that fewer shipments coming into the UK are being checked.

The number of full-time Border Force officers fell by almost 10 per cent in two years – from 8,332 in 2014-15 to 7,602 in 2016-17.

Fake tobacco, clothing, alcohol, footwear, electronic goods and cosmetics – largely from China – end up being sold through online marketplaces and on the high street, costing the exchequer an estimated £3.8billion a year in unpaid tax. ACG director-general Phil Lewis warned Britain’s ‘whole enforcement structure is creaking’.

Border officials were increasingly being forced to prioritise issues such as immigration, leaving them less time to help combat the trade in fake goods.

He said: ‘Our businesses, economy and consumers are under ruthless attack from international criminals involved a dark trade that gets more damaging and menacing by the day.’

He added that the Border Force is ‘dreadfully overstretched and has been pushed to the limit’.

Labour MP John Mann, who sits on the commons Treasury committee said: ‘We have to keep our borders secure and that means against counterfeit goods as well as people.’

The Home Office said: ‘Security at the border cannot be measured by the number of staff. Border Force uses a sophisticated combination of experienced officers, intelligence, technology and partnership working to keep our borders secure.’

‘Ruthless attack from criminals’