New laws give Customs more powers – and increase work

Friday 5th September 2008, 1:00PM BST.

CHALLENGES facing the Customs and Immigration Service have never been greater, according to its chief officer.

In its annual report for 2007, released today, Rob Prow (pictured) said the Bailiwick had significantly increased its armoury of financial-crime and drug-trafficking legislation during the past 18 months.

‘In every area of our business, demands seem to be increasing,’ he said. ‘For example, the States has introduced a whole raft of financial-crime legislation which will give us greater power and responsibilities to take the proceeds of crime to counter money laundering.

‘These new responsibilities and challenges will all need to be resourced by skilled investigators.’

Immigration-control work had also seen increased demands and the threat from identity fraud and illegal immigration continued to be apparent.