UK Immigration operational trainers, Ashley Robinson and Steve Smith joined TCI Border Control senior trainer, Tito Forbes, in delivering an intensive 2 week Leadership and Operational Skills training programme, for a select group of 6 Immigration Officers.
During the course, the officers were tested on a number of demanding activities, ranging from emergency life support to operational field deployments, technical skills such as handcuffing, restraint and searching, command training and coaching. Only those officers consistently demonstrating high levels of physical and mental competence and who passed a tough end of course ‘Knowledge Check’ examination were certified as Personal Safety Training (PST) trainers, able to support senior TCI trainers Tito Forbes and Wendy Seymour in delivering future operational skills training and refreshers to new and existing staff.
This course represents the final piece in a carefully crafted and co-ordinated programme of operational skills development for Border Control enforcement staff that, over the past 3 years, has delivered a cohort of highly skilled and professionally equipped officers, able to meet the myriad migration threats of illegal working, unlawful entrants and sloop arrivals.
This will be the latest in a series of training and development activities for the Ministry of Border Control and Labour that have been facilitated and co-ordinated by Immigration Adviser, Simon Excell and funded by the joint DFID/FCO – UK Technical Assistance Programme, which is managed by the Governor’s Office. It has seen the Ministry emerge as a regional lead in areas such as immigration intelligence, forgery detection, victim identification, human rights, citizenship processes and operational skills.
By realising this final group of immigration enforcement trainers, the programme will have delivered a lasting legacy of professionally skilled operational leaders, equipped to protect the Islands against immigration abuses, now and into the future.
