Fresh recruits to battle post-Olympics border queues
Immigration minister Damian Green has confirmed the government will bring forward the planned recruitment of 70 new border staff in order to prevent queues at London Heathrow Airport.
The new staff will be in place after the London 2012 Olympic Games, when the UK is expected to receive an influx of visitors.
Plans had been in place to recruit the staff when Terminal 2 reopens in 2014.
Some 480 extra UK Border Force staff will be on duty for the Olympics. However, staffing levels will be reduced following the games, creating a potential shortfall.
Green told the commons Home Affairs Committee: “Terminal 2 is reopening in 2014.
“Seventy extra people will be working there. We are recruiting them to be working from the immediate post-Olympics.”