A NO-DEAL Brexit could lead to a security threat and long delays in Harwich as new border controls may not be ready in time, a public spending watchdog has warned.

The National Audit Office’s latest report says the Government is in a race against time to boost Border Force staffing around the country’s ports.

Criminals could exploit border weaknesses and delays for goods crossing the Harwich border are likely, it added.

The report said: “Delays in UK to EU negotiations have reduced the time available to departments to plan and implement new border regimes that might be required.

“There is now less time to make any necessary changes to systems and infrastructure, increasing the risks to effective border operations.”

To combat this issue Border Force plans to recruit 581 full-time additional operation staff and wants to increase numbers the months following Brexit.

It is also establishing a readiness task force of 300 staff who can be deployed to help meet peaks in demand.

The report said HMRC will need to develop infrastructure to enable the tracking of goods, and Border Force will require space and facilities to physically examine goods.

Concerns have been raised about Harwich’s HM Revenue and Customs office being turned into houses while there are still uncertainties about the impact Brexit will have on ports.

Garry Calver, Harwich councillor, said: “We expressed great concern from the very beginning at the closure and sale of Harwich’s Custom House before it was known what the impact Brexit may have on the port.

“It’s clear now that these concerns were justified and there is great worry at how our port will be affected in a no deal situation.”

The Custom House was scrapped as part of a major overhaul of the service. 

A Government spokesperson said: “Extensive work to prepare for a no deal has been well underway for almost two years and we have robust plans in place to ensure the border continues to operate from the day we leave.

“Future IT systems and infrastructure are already being built and, as they do today, HMRC will continue to apply an automated, risk-based approach to customs checks. This means any increase in the number of checks will be kept to a minimum. We will always ensure we have the necessary resources to keep the border secure, and that’s why we’re recruiting approximately 600 Border Force officers to prepare for the day we leave the EU, in addition to the 300 officers which will be deployed by the end of the year.” 

Although Harwich has closed its Custom House, HMRC are retaining a site in Southend and will be retaining a long term presence in Ipswich – so it will still have a presence in the East of England.