Military 'stands ready' to cover striking Border Force staff this summer

Members of the Armed Forces will be brought in to check passports and provide cover for striking Border Force staff, in a bid to avoid chaotic scenes at ports and airports this summer.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) says it has approved a Maca request from the Home Office to provide soldiers, sailors, and aviators from across the military to provide assistance.

Border Force workers are set to walk out and take part in industrial action, in their ongoing dispute over pay, jobs, pensions and working conditions.

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In a written question, Labour's Luke Pollard MP and Shadow Minister for Defence asked the MOD if it had "received a Military Aid to Civilian Authority request from the Home Office for Armed Forces personnel to cover for striking Border Force staff in summer 2023".

Armed Forces Minister James Heappey responded, saying: "The Ministry of Defence has received a Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (Maca) request from the Home Office.

"Defence has reviewed this request and will provide military personnel as part of contingency plans to maintain public services and minimise disruption in the event of any industrial action by Border Force staff."

Mr Heappey went on to say: "Under the Maca process, defence always stands ready to respond to requests from civil authorities in line with established Maca principles."

It comes after personnel were seen in airports across the UK last Christmas including at Heathrow, Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow.

When the UK's Armed Forces provide support to civil authorities, it is officially termed Military Aid to the Civil Authorities or Maca.

Why do people keep mentioning Maca and what does it mean?

Maca legislation allows for UK Government departments to call on the military to assist in times of emergency and to share the burden with civil organisations such as the police service, fire service, Border Force and the National Health Service.

However, there are many other reasons the military can and does step in.

The Civil Contingencies Act 2004 defines an emergency as: "An event or situation which threatens serious damage to human welfare in the United Kingdom or in a part or region, an event or situation which threatens serious damage to the environment of the United Kingdom or of a part or region, or war, or terrorism, which threatens serious damage to the security of the United Kingdom."

An MOD spokesperson said: "We have accepted a Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (Maca) request from the Home Office, to provide support to Border Force in the event of industrial action by its staff."