Not everyone is behind on schedule. Southampton, Plymouth, Hull and Immingham, operated by the company Associated British Ports (ABP), are all expected to be ready on time.
Nevertheless, the majority of those BCPs are predicting to miss the July deadline. The ports have written to the Cabinet Office, Department for Transport and Defra and are expecting a plan B.
“Even if they aren’t willing to extend beyond July, or publicly say that, they must have alternative plans, and ministers and officials are being told this on a weekly basis,” says Ballantyne, chief executive of the trade body British Ports Association (BPA) who are calling on the government to share its contingency plans.
A government spokesperson said it is “making significant preparations to ensure [ports] will be ready for the staged introduction of border controls”, adding that it was working closely with ports that have received funding.
One solution for those check posts that won’t be ready by July is to amend the process and allow the checks to be carried out at the destination port like it is set up at the moment. Sceptics see this as an opportunity for the UK border to be used for fraud and smuggling.