According to a union, the work of the UK Border Agency would be limited to a great extent if the proposed cuts on immigration by Kent’s Immigration Team are applied.

The budget for Kent’s program catered to only a staff of 145 where as the Agency has a total of 185 as staff.  This is according to an internal memorandum that was leaked to the BBC. As per this memorandum, eleven of the staff members would be shifted to Sussex. Similarly, there would be other departures that are being anticipated. As of now, the Agency has a higher number of staff than what could be catered to. The leaked memo in question was sent as an email from Graham Ralph who is the Regional Deputy Director to the staff.

However, according to the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), this step would restrict the ability of the staff to arrest people. However, the Agency argues against it. Instead, the Border Agency has said that it does not see any mandatory loss of jobs. The Agency has also said that discussions are being done with staff and unions and it is dedicated to bring about every possible task that could redeploy these people.

As per the email, the Home Office and the UK Border Agency are not free from any form of pressures facing the public purse. This was followed by a new budget and a staffing profile catering to the region.

It also mentioned that the Kent Team would keep to the buildings, would have less number of specialist managers. However, it would continue to have a constant staff which is trained on the capability to arrest. Also, the staff that is trained for the casework capacity would also be maintained.