‘Risky’ freight to be sent to new inland sites if no Brexit deal, MPs hear

Freight considered suspicious will be moved from ports to two new inland centres to be investigated in a no-deal Brexit scenario, MPs have been told.

Trade considered to be “high risk” will be directed to specially developed centres at Heathrow and Milton Keynes, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) officials told the Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

Karen Wheeler, director general border co-ordination at HMRC said: “There will continue to be security controls and checks on that freight to the same degree that there is today. That doesn’t change, but there won’t be additional customs controls happening at the border.

“What we are anticipating is that for the highest risk trade that comes through those routes they will be directed to inland facilities.”

Border Force director general, the Home Office, Paul Lincoln said a similar centre already existed in the Midlands.

Explaining how suspicious freight would be handled, he said: “A logistics contractor will transport it to the inland clearance site at which then it will be unpacked and we will conduct the checks for security and other things as part of it.

“We will look for prohibited and restricted items like firearms or drugs.”

During the PAC session, Tory MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown raised concerns about whether the Government was prioritising the flow of food in a no deal scenario.

“To be frank, it sounds a little concerning because when the supermarkets and other shops are relying on just in time food chains, not only is there a risk that the food will pass its sell-by date, there’s a risk that actually the shops will not have the supplies that they need.”

Clare Moriarty, Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs permanent secretary, told the committee the food situation was being prioritised.