UK: Border security a "booming business" finds report analysing GBP3.7 billion worth of contracts linked to English Channel crossings; incl. cos. responses & non-responses
Jordhan Madec, Unsplash
In April 2025, researchers from the Universities of Liverpool, York, Sheffield and Nottingham released a report exploring contracts awarded by the UK government to companies to manage border security and small boat crossings in the English Channel. The report findings over GBP3.77 billion has been awarded in government contracts to private firms since 2015 for managing border security and small boat crossings.
The report argues the UK’s border enforcement system is a “booming business” driven by “private security firms, tech giants, and defence contractors”. The researchers argue that the government is subsidizing private companies profiting from policies designed to “repel” asylum seekers, instead of creating safe and legal routes for people to apply for asylum.
Entrust, Galliford Try Construction, IBM, Leidos, Mitie, Serco and Tekever were awarded the ten largest contracts, according the report. Other companies named in the report as having been awarded contracts were Addleshaw Goddard, Aeolian Offshore (part of Seacat Services), Ambex, Anduril Industries, BAE Syetems, Bell Container Trading, British Event Catering, Capita, Deloitte, Docnloc, Elbit Systems, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Fast Engineering, Fujitsu, G4S, Kings Ferry, Lifting Gear & Safety, Norcontrol, RGES International , Speedy Asset Services, Survitec Group, Versadock and Wagtail UK.
The report also argues there is a lack of public accountability in this area, as contracts are not made accessible for public scrutiny. For example, the researchers say they cannot find a record of the Sentry Watch Tower allegedly sold to the Home Office by Anduril Industries.
While the UK government has shown a disturbing willingness to strip billions of pounds from the pockets of disabled people, our research shows how a similar amount is funneled into the border industry, and the pockets of private firms. At this time of austerity, a gang of companies are profiting from government policies that simply don’t work.Dr Thom Davies, Associate Professor in Geography at the University of Nottingham
In June, the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre invited all companies named in the report to respond to the findings. Addleshaw Goddard, British Event Catering, Deloitte, G4S, Kongsberg Norcontrol, Mitie Care and Custody, Serco, and Tekever responded to the Resource Centre. Ambex, Anduril Industries, BAE Syetems, Bell Container Trading, Capita, Docnloc, Elbit Systems, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Entrust, Fast Engineering, Fujitsu, Galliford Try, IMB, Kings Ferry, Leidos, Lifting Gear & Safety, RGES International, Seacat Services (parent of Aeolian Offshore), Speedy Asset Services, Survitec Group, Versadock and Wagtail UK did not respond.
The Resource Centre also received a statement from Management Consultancies Association, which can be read in full below.
Following the publication of the companies' responses and non-responses, the Resource Centre received a rejoinder from the authors of the report, which can be read in full below. The rejoinder argues companies are investing in "maintaining the political illusion that the state must be small". The rejoinder also notes the misuse of the language of "trafficking", which it highlights is not the same as using the services of smugglers amid a lack of alternative routes.