Travel Document Project
UKBA units and initiatives relating to travel documents
There are a number of units within UKBA that work on establishing identity and obtaining travel documents for people facing removal from the UK. All such units that we are aware of, and any information we have about the work done by staff in them, are listed below.
In addition, the UK Border Agency and UKBA jointly report on initiatives with foreign governments to trace identity and nationality, secure travel documents, and achieve returns. For example,
"Working with the Chinese Authorities to return their nationals: A UK Border Agency Returns Liaison Officer (RLO) based at the British Embassy in Beijing is working in close partnership with the Chinese authorities to improve the re-documentation process for return of Chinese nationals unlawfully in the UK. Establishment of Chinese identity can be a complex process if no supporting documentation is available. The RLO team in conjunction with the Chinese authorities undertake identity verification checks. This ensures that we have the best quality evidence available to submit to the Chinese Embassy in London to assist them to re-document their nationals. The Chinese have also based an official at their Embassy in London to facilitate the document issue process. This cooperation is paying off: returns, including voluntary returns, are increasing year-on-year - in 2006, 2007 and 2008 we returned 630, 1065 and 1680 Chinese nationals respectively."
(Source: International Challenges, International Solutions: Managing the movement of people and goods, March 2010, UKBA and Foreign & Commonwealth Office. p.25)
| Country Targeting Unit (CTU) | Checks information in-country, part of CCD.
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| Returns Group Documentation Unit (RGDU) | "(Previously known as Immigration Service Documentation Unit) RGDU's remit is to liaise with High Commissions/Embassies and Local Enforcement Offices (LEOs)/Local Immigration Teams (LITs) to acquire emergency travel documents (ETDs) to facilitate the removal of foreign nationals who do not qualify to reside in the UK" (Source: UKBA response dated 3 August 2010 to an FOI request by Northern Refugee Centre, section 8).
UK Border Agency says "The Returns Group Documentation Unit (RGDU) is part of United Kingdom Border Agency's (UKBA) Removals Logistics team and is a national resource managing operational requests for Emergency Travel Documents (ETDs). RGDU has a vital task to obtain ETDs for immigration offenders and Foreign National Prisoners (FNPs) who are subject to removal from the UK but have no valid travel document of their own and cannot be otherwise removed. RGDU has a crucial role to play in helping UKBA case owners to secure removals. It handles and manages the entire ETD application process for over 70 countries, engaging with units across UKBA, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and with Embassies and High Commissions" (Source: UKBA Job Advert - accessed 23/03/10
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| CCD Ops Team | This team is known to be involved in applications for travel documents.
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| Specialist Investigation & Documentation Team | "This team exists purely to expedite the identification and redocumentation of cases where it has proven difficult to obtain a travel document. His case will now be allocated very much greater time and resource than would be usual and we expect to make significant progress as a result " (Source: Detainee Z bail summary dated 22.7.09, copy held by BID)
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| Removals Support and Coordination Unit (ReSCU) | "ReSCU's remit is to manage the public expense removals budget, arrange charter flights (chartered removals), and liaise with airlines about removals" (Source: UKBA response dated 3 August 2010 to an FOI request by Northern Refugee Centre, section 8)
Removals Support and Coordination Unit, CIO Charter and Route Management Team "ReSCU is responsible for the procurement of seats on scheduled and chartered services for returnees and escorts and for managing the public expense removal budget .In addition, the unit manages removals via specific routes to safeguard their continued use and provides advice to operational colleagues on removal issues. The advertised role focuses on overseeing the implementation of charter operations, assisting in the management of the implementation of specific returns agreements and providing advice on removals generally to operational colleagues.
Work involves: The jobholder will be responsible for: Overseeing and maximising intake for all charter operations whilst maintaining and developing relations with internal / external stakeholders to ensure delivery. Overseeing ad hoc EU Letter pilots and managed routings The tasks of the jobholder: To manage a team of EOs/AOs on a day to day basis and line management responsibility for at least one EO and AO To represent UKBA with a range of external stakeholders to ensure the successful delivery of the charter programme (including FCO, carriers, ticketing contractor, overseas authorities etc.) To assist in the management of charter flights by ensuring procurement of appropriate aircraft, overseeing referral of cases from the Regions and CCD to ensure that high harm/FNP cases are targeted, ensuring that there is maximum uptake on all flights. To crisis manage any potential problems relating to outgoing charter operations on the day of the flight via liaison with all appropriate parties whilst maintaining contact with Rapid Response Team and/or Press Office. To accompany charter flights as required (usually twice per month), managing reserves to ensure the charter operates at capacity, and that those on board are removable, liaising with OSCU re last minute barriers and injunctions. To ensure the smooth handover of returnees in the source country and to liaise with the receiving authorities where any nationality dispute may arise. To implement and oversee EU Letter pilots ensuring that only suitable cases where nationality is not in dispute are referred to the relevant authorities for approval and to liaise with Migration Delivery Officers in the source countries to ensure that referrals are processed in a timely manner. To travel to the source country (as required) in advance of a charter flight in order to liaise with both the authorities and FCO colleagues to ensure the smooth arrival of the flight". (Source: UKBA Job Advert - accessed 23/03/10)
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| Risk and Liaison Overseas Network (RALON) | "Previously known as the Airline Liaison Officer Network. RALON does not have a direct role in removals. It provides limited advice and support overseas to ReSCU where this is appropriate" (Source: UKBA response dated 3 August 2010 to an FOI request by Northern Refugee Centre, section 8).
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| Enforcement Policy Unit | "This team's responsibility in supporting removal activity has been taken on by Professional Standards for Enforcement (PSE). PSE update and revise guidance to operational Local Immigration Teams (LIT's) on enforcement processes and removals. Specific changes to guidance on removals are collated and published after reference to the other internal stakeholders within the UK Border Agency. Current guidance is available and published externally on the UK Border Agency website" (Source: UKBA Enforcement & Guidance)
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| Foreign & Commonwealth Office | The FCO is known to raise issues in specific travel document cases with overseas embassies.
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| Interpol | INTERPOL say this about their role: INTERPOL is the world's largest international police organization, with 188 member countries. Created in 1923, it facilitates cross-border police co-operation, and supports and assists all organizations, authorities and services whose mission is to prevent or combat international crime. INTERPOL aims to facilitate international police co-operation even where diplomatic relations do not exist between particular countries. Action is taken within the limits of existing laws in different countries and in the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. |