Manchester Airport plays host to Immigration Minister
Mark Harper travels to Manchester to meet Border Force staff on the frontline.
Mark Harper with detection dog Roddy and Border Force dog handler Rachel
Immigration Minister Mark Harper visited Manchester Airport to meet Border Force staff and take a tour of the airport’s border controls.
Manchester Airport is the third largest airport in the UK with 10 million passengers processed every year by Border Force staff. More than 100 airlines operate from Manchester Airport with direct flights to 220 destinations worldwide – more than any other UK airport.
Staff feedback
During his visit the minister answered questions at a Border Force staff forum and saw the immigration and customs checks that arriving flights must under-go to secure the UK border.
Immigration Minister Mark Harper said:
Today was a great opportunity to meet and speak with Border Force staff at Manchester Airport about their experience on the frontline.
Keeping the border secure is a priority and they play a hugely important role in the fight against people traffickers, smuggling and illegal migration.
Drug detection
He also took time to watch a drug detection display by one of the airport’s 7 sniffer dogs, Roddy. Springer Spaniel Roddy, who took part in the display, will be retiring in 2 weeks to live with handler Rachel after 7 successful years service at the airport
Roddy is part of a detection team that has made some sizeable seizures at the airport during 2012/ 2013.These include:
- 35 million cigarettes
- 9 tonnes of tobacco
- 50 kilos of cocaine
- 142 kilos of heroin
- 1.5 tonnes of counterfeit goods