Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee

Recommendation 15

15 Accepted Paragraph: 56

Dropping pushback policy is right due to safety concerns and reputational risks.

Conclusion
Given widely expressed concerns about the practicality and safety of a pushback policy, we think it right that the policy has been dropped: it is hard to see how the benefit of such a manoeuvre as an active deterrent could outweigh its potential costs in the form of risk to migrants’ and officials’ lives and damage to the UK’s reputation.
Government Response Summary
The government states it already works closely with a variety of European countries on border security and intends to deepen this work, with discussions currently underway with a range of partners.
Paragraph Reference: 56
Government Response Accepted
HM Government Accepted
The Government already works closely with a variety of European countries, as well as with partners upstream, on border security. Our intention is to deepen that work— including in areas referenced by the Committee—wherever possible. Discussions to do so are underway with a range of partners.