Latest news with #BorderForce
The Guardian
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Border Force chief who ‘suggested game of Naked Attraction' with colleagues was able to leave civil service with unblemished record
A Home Office investigation has found one of its most senior officials harassed and behaved inappropriately towards a female colleague, before being able to leave the civil service with an unblemished record after a 'shambolic' disciplinary process. The case has caused such alarm in the department that the new permanent secretary, Antonia Romeo, has ordered an immediate review of complaints, conduct and disciplinary procedures to 'ensure confidence in the integrity of the system'. Steve Dann, the former chief operating officer (COO) of Border Force, was effectively banned from visiting the organisation's offices in Paris in 2023 after he suggested to female officers that regional directors could play a game of Naked Attraction, the Channel 4 dating show in which contestants stand in front of each other fully nude. He told investigators he did not recall the incident. Dann, who was in the £120,000-a-year post for four years, faced other allegations of misogynistic name-calling and making comments to women with sexual connotations, according to Home Office sources. He denied the allegations, suggesting comments had been taken out of context and that selective evidence had been used during the investigation by the Home Office's professional standards unit (PSU). He acknowledged during the process that some of his comments may have been careless, but said he had never intended to upset or offend. After a chaotic HR process, which one source said was littered with 'procedural errors and delays', the original grievance was eventually upheld on appeal. However, Dann was not informed about the process until the initial stage was completed. He was also subject to a parallel misconduct investigation into the claims which was not upheld. Dann decided to leave the Home Office in December last year, standing down as the COO of Border Force, a role that placed him at the centre of the organisation's key responsibilities, including securing the UK's borders by enforcing immigration regulations and patrolling coastlines during the small-boats crisis. He has since entered the private sector in the field of security and law enforcement operations, and public safety. The complainant first reported Dann in February 2024, after working with him for 18 months. An initial internal grievance inquiry was launched two months later, with the final PSU report quoting named Home Office officials who appeared to confirm a series of sexist and misogynistic comments, according to sources. While the complaint was not initially upheld, it was later upheld on appeal in October 2024. Dann was not involved in this process and was not given the opportunity to respond. At the same time a separate misconduct process was launched, also based on evidence in the PSU report. This was not upheld, no formal disciplinary sanction was imposed, and there was no record of it on Dann's file, although Home Office sources said he was asked to undergo training in response. The claims being investigated included the colleague being told in a voice note that she was 'very pretty', which the PSU report concluded was 'reasonable' for her to have interpreted as harassment. Other comments were described by the report as 'inappropriate and offensive' and 'unprofessional topics with a sexual connotation'. According to sources, the report said he messaged about one person who attended a meeting suggesting that she had a 'porn star name', which he told the inquiry was meant in a 'lighthearted' way. On a separate occasion, he was said to have misnamed a female colleague 'kinky', although he later admitted this had been a 'careless' thing to say. During a discussion on the diversity of his office, Dann allegedly said: 'Don't forget the sweaty woman in the corner', referring to a colleague going through menopause. In the report, he denied making this comment. In another meeting, in December 2022, he asked junior colleagues if they knew what a 'fluffer' was, and then explained it was 'someone whose job was to keep a porn star's penis erect', sources said. He denied to investigators that he had made the remarks. On the official visit to Border Force in Paris in April 2023, he brought up the Channel 4 naked dating show Naked Attraction to two female officers working in intelligence. In remarks corroborated by witnesses, he added: 'We were thinking it could be all the regional directors and, you know, people had to look at it and guess whose penis it was.' The officers were 'very shocked' by the conversation and felt 'incredibly uncomfortable', a senior official told investigators, but when they were asked if they wanted to make a complaint they said they would prefer that Dann not return to the Paris office. This was reported to Border Force chiefs. Dann told them he did not recall the incident. One senior official who witnessed the exchange said they were 'disappointed' by Dann's conduct, which they felt was 'inappropriate'. Several others said they considered that he was 'prone to oversharing' about his private life at work, sources with knowledge of the report said. The appeal, which was based on the same evidence in the PSU report, was finally concluded eight months after the initial complaint. It was after the Labour government entered office, and six weeks later Dann left his role, declaring that after nine years at the Home Office it was time to 'embrace new challenges'. In a letter to the complainant in October 2024, the Home Office upheld the grievance, acknowledging that Dann's conduct had fallen below the standards expected from a senior official and was in breach of the department's policies on appropriate behaviour, sources said. However, Dann – who was previously a 'people champion' and diversity lead in the civil service, roles that focused on improving the workplace environment, as well as representing the organisation in parliament and in the media – avoided any formal consequences because the separate earlier disciplinary process had already concluded and the rules meant it could not be reopened. According to sources, Dann told the initial investigation he had worked incredibly hard in a stressful frontline environment. Much of his time running Border Force operations was when the Tory government was struggling to get control of irregular migration, including small-boat crossings. Several of the witnesses said they had not been offended by his behaviour. However others, including senior civil servants and junior frontline operational staff, found his conduct inappropriate and unprofessional, according to sources who have seen the final PSU report and with knowledge of the final outcome. During the PSU investigation, Dann denied some of his conduct and said other incidents had been taken out of context, and that selected evidence had been used. But sources said he added that 'on reflection' there had been times when some of his comments had been 'careless', although they were not meant in a malicious way. When approached by the Guardian, he declined to comment. Yvette Cooper, who was home secretary throughout the latter part of the grievance process, has repeatedly and vocally called out workplace discrimination, misogyny and harassment. The case was flagged with her office although she is understood not to have been personally aware. A Home Office spokesperson said: 'While we do not comment on individual HR cases, where there are allegations of inappropriate behaviour or sexual harassment the Home Office will investigate and take appropriate action. 'The Home Office expects the highest standard from all members of staff and does not tolerate anyone displaying or taking part in unacceptable behaviour. 'The new permanent secretary has already commissioned a review of complaints, conduct and disciplinary procedures, to ensure absolute confidence in the integrity of the system.'
The Guardian
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Border Force chief who ‘suggested game of Naked Attraction' with colleagues was able to leave civil service with unblemished record
A Home Office investigation has found one of its most senior officials harassed and behaved inappropriately towards a female colleague, before being able to leave the civil service with an unblemished record after a 'shambolic' disciplinary process. The case has caused such alarm in the department that the new permanent secretary, Antonia Romeo, has ordered an immediate review of complaints, conduct and disciplinary procedures to 'ensure confidence in the integrity of the system'. Steve Dann, the former chief operating officer (COO) of Border Force, was effectively banned from visiting the organisation's offices in Paris in 2023 after he suggested to female officers that regional directors could play a game of Naked Attraction, the Channel 4 dating show in which contestants stand in front of each other fully nude. He told investigators he did not recall the incident. Dann, who was in the £120,000-a-year post for four years, faced other allegations of misogynistic name-calling and making comments to women with sexual connotations, according to Home Office sources. He denied the allegations, suggesting comments had been taken out of context and that selective evidence had been used during the investigation by the Home Office's professional standards unit (PSU). He acknowledged during the process that some of his comments may have been careless, but said he had never intended to upset or offend. After a chaotic HR process, which one source said was littered with 'procedural errors and delays', the original grievance was eventually upheld on appeal. However, Dann was not informed about the process until the initial stage was completed. He was also subject to a parallel misconduct investigation into the claims which was not upheld. Dann decided to leave the Home Office in December last year, standing down as the COO of Border Force, a role that placed him at the centre of the organisation's key responsibilities, including securing the UK's borders by enforcing immigration regulations and patrolling coastlines during the small-boats crisis. He has since entered the private sector in the field of security and law enforcement operations, and public safety. The complainant first reported Dann in February 2024, after working with him for 18 months. An initial internal grievance inquiry was launched two months later, with the final PSU report quoting named Home Office officials who appeared to confirm a series of sexist and misogynistic comments, according to sources. While the complaint was not initially upheld, it was later upheld on appeal in October 2024. Dann was not involved in this process and was not given the opportunity to respond. At the same time a separate misconduct process was launched, also based on evidence in the PSU report. This was not upheld, no formal disciplinary sanction was imposed, and there was no record of it on Dann's file, although Home Office sources said he was asked to undergo training in response. The claims being investigated included the colleague being told in a voice note that she was 'very pretty', which the PSU report concluded was 'reasonable' for her to have interpreted as harassment. Other comments were described by the report as 'inappropriate and offensive' and 'unprofessional topics with a sexual connotation'. According to sources, the report said he messaged about one person who attended a meeting suggesting that she had a 'porn star name', which he told the inquiry was meant in a 'lighthearted' way. On a separate occasion, he was said to have misnamed a female colleague 'kinky', although he later admitted this had been a 'careless' thing to say. During a discussion on the diversity of his office, Dann allegedly said: 'Don't forget the sweaty woman in the corner', referring to a colleague going through menopause. In the report, he denied making this comment. In another meeting, in December 2022, he asked junior colleagues if they knew what a 'fluffer' was, and then explained it was 'someone whose job was to keep a porn star's penis erect', sources said. He denied to investigators that he had made the remarks. On the official visit to Border Force in Paris in April 2023, he brought up the Channel 4 naked dating show Naked Attraction to two female officers working in intelligence. In remarks corroborated by witnesses, he added: 'We were thinking it could be all the regional directors and, you know, people had to look at it and guess whose penis it was.' The officers were 'very shocked' by the conversation and felt 'incredibly uncomfortable', a senior official told investigators, but when they were asked if they wanted to make a complaint they said they would prefer that Dann not return to the Paris office. This was reported to Border Force chiefs. Dann told them he did not recall the incident. One senior official who witnessed the exchange said they were 'disappointed' by Dann's conduct, which they felt was 'inappropriate'. Several others said they considered that he was 'prone to oversharing' about his private life at work, sources with knowledge of the report said. The appeal, which was based on the same evidence in the PSU report, was finally concluded eight months after the initial complaint. It was after the Labour government entered office, and six weeks later Dann left his role, declaring that after nine years at the Home Office it was time to 'embrace new challenges'. In a letter to the complainant in October 2024, the Home Office upheld the grievance, acknowledging that Dann's conduct had fallen below the standards expected from a senior official and was in breach of the department's policies on appropriate behaviour, sources said. However, Dann – who was previously a 'people champion' and diversity lead in the civil service, roles that focused on improving the workplace environment, as well as representing the organisation in parliament and in the media – avoided any formal consequences because the separate earlier disciplinary process had already concluded and the rules meant it could not be reopened. According to sources, Dann told the initial investigation he had worked incredibly hard in a stressful frontline environment. Much of his time running Border Force operations was when the Tory government was struggling to get control of irregular migration, including small-boat crossings. Several of the witnesses said they had not been offended by his behaviour. However others, including senior civil servants and junior frontline operational staff, found his conduct inappropriate and unprofessional, according to sources who have seen the final PSU report and with knowledge of the final outcome. During the PSU investigation, Dann denied some of his conduct and said other incidents had been taken out of context, and that selected evidence had been used. But sources said he added that 'on reflection' there had been times when some of his comments had been 'careless', although they were not meant in a malicious way. When approached by the Guardian, he declined to comment. Yvette Cooper, who was home secretary throughout the latter part of the grievance process, has repeatedly and vocally called out workplace discrimination, misogyny and harassment. The case was flagged with her office although she is understood not to have been personally aware. A Home Office spokesperson said: 'While we do not comment on individual HR cases, where there are allegations of inappropriate behaviour or sexual harassment the Home Office will investigate and take appropriate action. 'The Home Office expects the highest standard from all members of staff and does not tolerate anyone displaying or taking part in unacceptable behaviour. 'The new permanent secretary has already commissioned a review of complaints, conduct and disciplinary procedures, to ensure absolute confidence in the integrity of the system.'
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Moment 'spy' is arrested by undercover officers pretending to be Russian agents after he 'handed over USB stick containing Grant Shapps' details'
This is the moment a 'spy' was arrested less than an hour after he allegedly handed over a USB stick containing the personal details of the then-Secretary of Defence Grant Shapps to 'Russian agents'. Body-worn footage shows Howard Phillips, 65, in handcuffs as he is walked towards the entrance of a coffee shop in London by plain-clothed officers and told of his arrest. Just moments before, he met an undercover British officer - who he believed was a Russian agent - and allegedly handed over a USB stick containing the personal details of Tory politician Shapps. This included his home address, telephone number, and the location of his private plane, jurors have been told. The Briton, from Harlow, Essex, is on trial, accused of trying to spy for the Kremlin. Prosecutors said Phillips wanted to 'offer services' to Russian intelligence but the two handlers he corresponded with were British undercover security services agents. Released by the Met Police, the new video shows the moment he was arrested at a Black Sheep Coffee shop in London. In the clip, he spoke only to confirm that he understood why he was being arrested. At Winchester Crown Court, Hants, Phillips denies engaging in conduct to assist a foreign intelligence service. Prosecutors say Phillips had previously boasted he could get government clearance due to his new job at Border Force. He said he wanted the 'agents' and him to be a 'family' - and said they could all 'help each other' and 'look after each other'. He claimed to have been to Shapps' home and had met up with him several times. One of the intelligence officers, who is employed by the security service, gave evidence from behind a curtain at Winchester Crown Court on Thursday. The British officer was known to Phillips as 'Dima' and spoke to him in recordings with a fake Russian accent. On May 9, Phillips met with 'Dima' at a Costa Coffee in a retail park in West Thurrock, Essex. It was here that he revealed the 'useful' information he had been holding related to Shapps. Phillips told the officer: 'So I know his home address, I know his home telephone number and I know where he has his private plane. Maybe it's of interest, maybe not.' On May 16, he checked into a Hilton Hotel in London at the request of the fake agents, who told him it was for a senior officer of their 'organisation', the Russian Intelligence Service. He met with Dima just after 3pm and handed over a bag containing the card, a mobile phone, and the USB stick. Phillips was told to go to Black Sheep Coffee on King's Cross Square, London, to meet the senior RIS officer. Upon arriving at around 3:45pm, he was arrested by plain clothed officers. Shapps He was defeated in last year's general election and lost his seat.
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Telegraph
July set to be busiest ever for Channel migrant arrivals amid ‘summer sale'
July is on track to be the busiest on record for migrant arrivals as people smugglers offer them 'summer deals' to cross the Channel, The Telegraph has found. So far this month, 2,378 asylum seekers have arrived in the UK on small boats. Overall, 22,360 migrants, mostly from the Middle East, Vietnam and East Africa, have successfully made the perilous journey across the Channel so far this year. That is a 57 per cent increase on the same period last year, when 14,164 people arrived in the UK on inflatable dinghies. Analysis of Border Force figures by The Telegraph indicates that this will be the busiest July on record, with 2,378 arrivals in the first 12 days compared to 1,711 in 2023 – the previous busiest 12 days. Extrapolating that daily rate for the rest of the month gives a total monthly figure of 6,143, which would be the highest on record. 'Increasingly professionalised' gangs targeting certain nationalities with discounts of up to 50 per cent and changing their tactics to avoid French patrols are driving the increase. Eritreans and Albanians are being targeted with personalised advertisements on social media, with smugglers offering passage for as little as £2,000. Smugglers have been increasingly launching 'taxi boats' – pre-inflated dinghies – from waterways and canals that lead into the sea, where they can be quickly loaded with people before police have a chance to intervene. The boats crawl along the coastline, picking up passengers who wait in the sea, out of reach of police. This week alone, The Telegraph witnessed two such examples in Gravelines, a seaside commune connected to the River Aa that has become a trafficking hub where as many as 300 migrants may be smuggled in a day, according to its deputy mayor. Dr Peter Walsh, a senior researcher at The Migration Observatory, ascribed the increase this year to discount deals being offered to migrants. In some cases, it was because they were willing to pilot the dinghies themselves. Dr Walsh said: 'The numbers go up and down, and special rates can be offered for individuals who say, 'Well, I have experience directing boats'. Special offers can be given to certain nationalities. 'There was this big increase in Eritreans crossing in small boats, and anecdotal evidence suggested they had offered a lower rate that made it more affordable. About all we can say is the typical cost in the thousands of euros rather than hundreds and the prices are dynamic.' Dr Walsh also pointed to the newer tactics employed by smugglers, such as inflating dinghies on land while concealed in trees or sand dunes and then sending them down inlets and rivers into the sea. 'They are highly adaptable, you know in a certain sense law enforcement is always a step behind and remember, law enforcement has to follow the rules of the law and that is a substantial disadvantage that they are at,' he added. In the early hours of Sunday, French police stopped a group of 40 or so migrants from setting off on a crammed dinghy bound for the UK, by wading into the water and puncturing its hull with box cutters. Police were later seen towing the deflated black rubber dinghy away over Sangatte beach, around five miles west of Calais. The passengers were mostly young men of Vietnamese, East African and Middle Eastern origin. Three or four women were believed to have been on board along with an infant boy no older than 18 months. They were not detained by the police, and were seen wrapped in gold foil blankets and being given hot drinks by aid charities at 5am GMT.
The Age
7 days ago
- Automotive
- The Age
E-bikes shouldn't be banned. The illegal ones are already illegal
'I can fit like four bags of groceries and two schoolbags easily on the bike with the kids,' she said. But if you see a bike travelling on the flat or uphill for a long period, and the rider is not pedalling, or it looks a bit like a bicycle but sounds like a motorbike, chances are it is illegal. To be used in public, an e-bike must be predominantly pedal-powered, with a small electric motor providing assistance only, up to 250 watts, and the motor must cut out at 25km/h. A motorised bike cannot be ridden on a public road or paths if it is petrol-powered, if the electric motor helps you travel faster than 25km/h, if the bike has non-functioning pedals or if you twist a throttle and ride it only using the motor. Geoff Magoffin, from Transport and Main Roads, told a parliamentary committee he was not aware of significant safety issues with legal e-bikes, but thousands of illegal e-bikes were flooding into Australia. 'These are marketed as e-bikes but are in fact motorcycles,' he said. 'The resulting use of these dangerous and illegal motorcycles, often by children, is generating significant community concern, and it is only a matter of time before riders and other users are killed.' So how are these illegal bikes getting onto our streets? While you can't ride them on the road or paths, non-compliant bikes can be ridden on private property, and it is not illegal to sell them. I can hop online and buy a 10,000-watt e-dirt bike and ignore that little note that says it is not street-legal and designed for off-road use. The Maroons this month posted images of the team riding Fatfish Biggie fat tyre e-bikes, which have a top speed of 45km/h and are capable of peak outputs of 1080 watts, at Camp Maroon, which is private property. They are being auctioned. There are loopholes in federal import laws, after a mandatory import approval was removed in 2021 and replaced with an optional advisory notice, with non-compliant devices imported without the same level of scrutiny from Border Force. Bicycle Queensland says non-compliant bikes are marketed to teenagers and young adults, creating an 'uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous situation in which illegal devices are ridden by unskilled (or irresponsible) riders who mix with pedestrians on footpaths and shared paths'. About eight in 10 children walked or rode bikes to school in the 1970s, but now 74 per cent of primary school-aged children are driven. It's great to see young people outside, but it'd be better if they were travelling independently and having fun on a legal bike. They're unlicensed, unregistered and uninsured, and riders are liable for damages, including injury to third parties, caused by crashes in which they are at fault. Last week, police charged a 19-year-old who was allegedly riding on Elizabeth Street, with an officer telling him: 'You're aware this is a trail bike that you're not able to register, therefore not allowed to ride it on the road?' Confusion about the law and rapid proliferation makes it difficult to put the genie back in the bottle. It must be hard for police to quickly assess whether e-bikes comply with standard EN15194, if they are illegal or maybe a dirt bike able to be registered. More policing of reckless and anti-social behaviour – not just helmets and speed on Brisbane's inner-city bridges – an import ban, consistent national rules, and an education campaign is needed.
