§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) in which ports and airports the main reductions in manning levels of customs preventative officers will take place;
(2) how many customs preventative officers will be in post on the 31 March 1993.
(3) what consideration he gave to the effective control of drug trafficking in approving the recent reductions by the Board of Customs and Excise of the number of front-line customs officers.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardIn determining Customs anti-smuggling resources required for 1992–93 the aim has been to provide a service which is better equipped and targeted at areas of highest risk. A further consideration is the more flexible approach being adopted in the way in which the controls are organised; this involves a move away from the static controls previously used.
This approach has been adopted nationally as a result of the review of anti-smuggling controls completed by the Department in 1989. The changes in no way reduce the effectiveness of controls against drug trafficking. Customs are also taking steps to ensure provision of more timely and adequate intelligence in discussion with trade organisations and with other Customs and other law enforcement services.
Changes at particular ports and airports depend upon the extent to which local heads of executive units will be able to make use of flexible anti-smuggling teams and the risk category of the traffic in particular locations. Details by port and airport are not yet available.
The total number of anti-smuggling staff employed at the frontier at 31 March 1993 is expected to be just under 3,500. These staff will be supplemented by further resources on associated duties.