The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) released a 108-page report on 23 October 2025 assessing Border Force’s management of the ‘General Maritime’ domain—private yachts, freight coasters, fishing vessels and other non-scheduled traffic that collectively make over 120,000 UK port calls each year. The inspection, covering October 2024–February 2025, found inconsistent risk-profiling, patchy intelligence sharing with police coastal units and chronic understaffing at small ports.
Among nine formal recommendations, ICIBI David Neal urged the Home Office to develop a national small-ports strategy, boost maritime surveillance capacity and mandate data-sharing between harbour authorities and Border Force. The Home Office accepted seven recommendations but rejected proposals to halt the closure of two satellite enforcement units, citing resource constraints.
For corporate mobility managers whose assignees travel by company vessel or use remote marinas, the findings highlight potential delays as Border Force recalibrates risk scoring and increases spot-checks. Logistics firms moving high-value cargo by coastal feeder service should review compliance procedures and ensure manifests are electronically pre-lodged to minimise disruption.
The report also feeds into parliamentary scrutiny of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill; lawmakers are likely to reference ICIBI’s evidence when debating amendments on maritime enforcement powers later this autumn.
Among nine formal recommendations, ICIBI David Neal urged the Home Office to develop a national small-ports strategy, boost maritime surveillance capacity and mandate data-sharing between harbour authorities and Border Force. The Home Office accepted seven recommendations but rejected proposals to halt the closure of two satellite enforcement units, citing resource constraints.
For corporate mobility managers whose assignees travel by company vessel or use remote marinas, the findings highlight potential delays as Border Force recalibrates risk scoring and increases spot-checks. Logistics firms moving high-value cargo by coastal feeder service should review compliance procedures and ensure manifests are electronically pre-lodged to minimise disruption.
The report also feeds into parliamentary scrutiny of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill; lawmakers are likely to reference ICIBI’s evidence when debating amendments on maritime enforcement powers later this autumn.
