The GSD has issued a statement calling on the Government to provide clarity on frontier arrangements and improve temporary working conditions for Borders and Coastguard Agency and Customs officers ahead of Treaty implementation.

A statement from the GSD follows below:

Borders and Coastguard and Customs officers have been left exposed, literally, in the intense heat of  summer, and in the uncertainty which still prevails in respect of their allocated responsibilities upon Treaty  implementation.  

Shadow for Justice, Joelle Ladislaus MP, said: “The Government keep saying that they were ready in April for  the Treaty to come into effect. As usual, it seems they’ve overstated the position because the reality on the  ground is looking very different. The state of the frontier demonstrates that the Government are once again  rushing to put things in place at the eleventh hour. 

The last few weeks have seen temperatures rising and everyone looking for shade and ways to cool off.  Unfortunately, for BCA and Customs officers on duty at the frontier, it seems working conditions have been  quite difficult given the very limited and flimsy options for shade that they have been provided with amidst  the construction site they are working in, especially in relation to their Spanish counterparts, who appear to  have a better setup just metres away from our officers.  

The current working conditions are compounded by a prevailing sense of uncertainty for officers of both  agencies, for whom shifting and evolving roles and responsibilities under the Treaty are not yet clear. The  Government have had ample time to prepare law enforcement agencies for the significant changes which  are coming under the Treaty and it seems that, once again, they have done the minimal so that they can pay  lip service, rather than anything meaningful to ease the transition. It seems that for this Government, if the  boxes are ticked, the collateral damage doesn’t matter.” 

Although the opposition acknowledges that an element of disruption to normal working systems and an  impact on working conditions is to be expected as things progress towards Treaty implementation, the  impact can and should be mitigated with proper planning. If such little thought has been given to the  temporary arrangements at this stage, what can be expected in terms of the more permanent arrangements  that will need to be in place for the Treaty to be effectively implemented in a matter of weeks? The  Government should address the situation at the frontier urgently to alleviate the working conditions of BCA  and Customs officers in the short-term and address their long-term concerns as to their evolving duties and  responsibilities under the Treaty.