An inspection of the Border Force intelligence functions at the Humber ports June 2022 to November 2022

Review the policy, process and guidance for the management and dissemination of intelligence to ensure:clear ownership of new intelligence to remove time consuming deconfliction enquiries and prevent duplication of effortagency staff have access to intelligence in a usable format to enable them to action it effectively

Partially accepted: Home Office Intelligence accepts the recommendation to review the policy and process for the management and dissemination of intelligence. However, intelligence shared with agency staff will need to be commensurate with their vetting level and in accordance with handling instructions stipulated by the originator.

Implementation: October 2023

Review the tasking process at the Operational Intelligence Tasking and Co-ordination Group (Ops ITCG) to improve its effectiveness, including:provision of a clear escalation mechanism to the Intelligence Tasking and Co-ordinating Group (ITCG)empowering managers to task across functions outside the existing meeting structuremaintaining accurate records of taskings and developing an accountability mechanism to assess outcomes

Home Office accepted: Work has commenced to review the tasking process at the Operational Intelligence Tasking and Co-ordination Group, and this will include all functions across Home Office Intelligence.

Implementation: December 2023

Work with the Multi-Agency Hub Strategic Governance Board to review the identity and branding of the Forward Intelligence Cell (FIC) in Hull and undertake engagement to improve the understanding of its role by staff and stakeholders.

Home Office accepted: Home Office Intelligence accepts this recommendation which is in line with plans it was developing prior to the ICIBI inspection. Renewed communications to internal and external stakeholders make it clear that the Forward Intelligence Cell is part of Gateway Multi-Agency Hub.

Implementation: Completed April 2023

Review the collection function to improve tasking volumes and relationships with other intelligence functions within Border Force intelligence and frontline functions, including:an assessment of the effectiveness of its geographical structure and how it aligns with the target operating model’s modal structurereviewing and agreeing the powers conferred on collection officers and ensuring equity of powers for all officersreviewing the training and accreditation provision for collection officers, ensuring staff are trained on commencement of their role (in line with recommendation 6)ensuring there is sufficient management oversight of collection officers

Partially accepted: The Home Office will explore whether powers are relevant to the role of collection officers and use this as the basis for any consequent future change. All other aspects of this recommendation are accepted, with priority being given to training and accreditation. There is a dependency with the MINERVA programme and the development of the collection capability across Home Office Intelligence. Work will also be undertaken across Home Office Intelligence to improve tasking volumes.

Implementation: October 2023

Review the communications strategy for the MINERVA programme to ensure that the end state of MINERVA and how it will be delivered is clearly defined and communicated to staff.

Home Office accepted: The MINERVA programme’s new communication strategy was approved in December 2022. MINERVA roadshows have been held in January 2023 across the UK with a session dedicated to communicating the ‘end state’, with further events planned. MINERVA will continue to review the communications strategy as part of Programme delivery in 2023-24.

Implementation: March 2024

Review the training and accreditation provision for Border Force intelligence staff to:ensure training and accreditation pathways are agreed and in place for all intelligence rolesensure staff receive role-specific training on commencement of a new roleensure there are effective and well-utilised escalation routes to senior managers for training course and staff availability issuescompare the training and accreditation pathways delivered by other law enforcement agencies to ensure equity and consistency

Home Office accepted: We will build on the existing training and accreditation pathways open to Home Office Intelligence staff. Escalation routes are already in place and further work will be undertaken to ensure these are utilised. A Heads of Capability Group has been established to ensure that all Learning and Development activity is aligned across Home Office Intelligence. The Head of Profession will ensure all Learning and Development is aligned to the Intelligence Professionalisation Programme to enable appropriate accreditation.

Implementation: October 2023

Continue to review the tools and technology used by intelligence officers and frontline staff to maximise the benefits of intelligence and targeting opportunities by:ensuring they enable staff to undertake their roles efficiently and effectivelyimplementing mitigations and delivery plans where operational limitations or delays to delivery are identified

Home Office accepted: We will continue to review the tools and technology used by our people. As part of this we are building new tools to exploit data and intelligence to allow us to target more effectively.  The ability to improve tools and technology is constrained by funding and will therefore be subject to controls through existing governance including the Border Force Capability Investment Committee and the Home Office Finance and Investment Committee. As a follow up to the capabilities assessment process work will be undertaken with Border Force operational leads to standardise the use of tools at the frontline.

Implementation: March 2024