Public and Commercial Services Union

Members will have seen the coverage in the media of BNP members discovered working for contractors at Immigration Removal Centres.

PCS totally condemns this and has strident policies opposed to far right politics. We also believe that this is a symptom of the contracting out of this work leaving little regulatory control with the department.

For a number of years PCS has actively been pursuing the department regarding a ban on members of racist organisations taking employment in the Home Office. Members will be aware that this ban exists in the Police Service and the Prison Service already.

Management reject idea

Unfortunately we have been rebuffed in our attempts, with David Normington stating “I do not consider it appropriate for the Home Office to introduce a piece meal ban on staff membership of such organisations”.

PCS believes that a ban is an important first step and a statement of intent.

Whilst it is highly likely that this is a problem only in a very small minority of cases, it is symbolically important for a ban to be in place.

Double standards

David Normington’s advice seems at variance from recent developments.

The Home Office ‘For the record’ section on Horizon states “we ask anyone carrying out duties on our behalf to sign a declaration stating that they are not a member of the BNP, National Front or Combat 18.”

This is of course not the case for civil servants. PCS must ask why double standards are employed on this issue where it is unacceptable for contractors to be members of racist organisations but that it is fine for home office employees to be members.

Further representations

PCS will be approaching the department once again to raise these issues and press again for a ban of members of racist organisations from working in the department.

Our members in the UK Border Agency do a difficult job which is not made easier by the often poisonous nature of the political debate on immigration.

It is important that our members have the full support of management when they are trying to fulfil their obligations as public servants under the equality duty.

That support should include rooting out any members of the far right within the service who undermine our members’ professionalism in this respect.

We publicly call on the Home Office to implement a ban and we stand ready to agree a policy with them.