Home Office appoints Sajid Javid's brother as new head of Immigration Enforcement
Sajid Javid and brother Bas (inset)
PA
The Home Office has appointed one of the UK’s most senior police officers to lead its efforts on tackling illegal migration.
Bas Javid, currently Deputy Assistant Commissioner at the Metropolitan Police Service, will become Director General of Immigration Enforcement.
Bas is the brother of MP Sajid Javid, who served as Health Secretary from June 2021 to July 2022, Home Secretary from 2018 to 2019 and Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2019 to 2020.
Javid is set to start at the Home Office in November following a 30 year career in policing, previously serving at Avon and Somerset Police, West Midlands Police and the Met.
Bas Javid
As Director General of Immigration Enforcement, he will spearhead the operational response to immigration offending in the UK and build on the efforts already being made to tackle this problem.
Javid's team will operate in conjunction with other law enforcement divisions, including police and Border Force.
Bas Javid said: “Protecting the integrity of the UK’s immigration system is vital, so it is an honour to be appointed to this important role.
"I am excited to begin leading a group of dedicated, hardworking and talented public servants to ensure we uphold our rules and laws.”
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: “Immigration abuse is a scourge on our society and I will leave no stone unturned in clamping down on this illegality.
Sajid Javid arrives for The Spectator's Summer Party at the magazine's offices in central London on July 5, 2023.
PA
"Bas brings a wealth of law enforcement experience and will further ramp up our efforts to tackle immigration offending, as the British people would expect."
Javid's appointment was overseen by the Civil Service Commission which regulates senior civil service recruitment and followed a rigorous, fair and open competition.”
Home Office Permanent Secretary Sir Matthew Rycroft said: “I look forward to welcoming Bas to the Home Office and working alongside him to tackle illegal migration, which is the top priority for the department.”
It comes as the number of migrants crossing the Channel by small boat since 2018 reached the landmark figure of 100,000 on Thursday.
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Minister of State for Immigration Robert Jenrick.
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Some 400 migrants have crossed in eight small boats today, with reports of further sightings in the Channel.
The arrivals are the first since Saturday, as bad weather made conditions in the Channel largely impassable.
Last year, a record 45,755 people made the journey.
The appointment was announced as part of the government's small boats week, the headlines from which have been dominated by the first asylum seekers arriving at the Bibby Stockholm barge.
When up and running, up to 500 men aged between 18 and 65 will be housed in the temporary floating accommodation while waiting on the outcome of their asylum application.
Rishi Sunak’s plan to place asylum seekers on the barge has been blighted by a series of setbacks.
Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick has confirmed plans to go ahead with the move despite the Fire Brigades Union raising concerns over the increased capacity.