Rob Whiteman Chief Executive – UK Border Agency (UKBA) (Common Purpose Member)
The UK Border Agency (UKBA) WAS the border control agency of the UK government and part of the Home Office.
It was formed as an executive agency on 1 April 2008 by a merger of the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA), UKvisas and the Detection functions of HM Revenue and Customs.
The decision to create a single border control organisation was taken following a Cabinet Office report which reported existing systems were not fit for purpose.
Rob Whiteman, (Common Purpose) was appointed Chief Executive in September 2011.
Over 23,000 staff worked for the agency, in over 130 countries.
It was divided into four main operations, each under the management of a senior director: operations, immigration and settlement, international operations and visas and law enforcement.
The agency came under formal criticism from the Parliamentary Ombudsman for consistently poor service, a backlog of many hundreds of thousands of cases, and a large and increasing number of complaints.
In the first nine months of 2009–10, 97% of investigations reported by the Ombudsman resulted in a complaint against the agency being upheld.
The complainants were asylum, residence, or other immigration applicants.
On 26 March 2013, following a scathing report into the agency’s, (poisoned culture and flawed leadership bordering on incompetence) by the Home Affairs Select Committee, it was announced by Home Secretary Theresa May that the UK Border Agency would be abolished and its work returned to the Home Office.
Its executive agency status was removed as of 31 March 2013 and the agency was split into two new organisations;
1. UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) focusing on the visa system.
2. An Immigration Enforcement Organisation, (IEO) focusing on immigration law enforcement, previously known as the, “Border Force”.
The Interim Director Generals of the two organisations have been appointed.
Sarah Rapson will bring her customer-focus experience that she gained from the Identity and Passport Service to (UKVI).
David Wood, an experienced ex-Police Officer and former Director of Operations of the (UKBA), will head up IE.
We are told to expect a tough, hard-line command that will see the strict application of the UK’s immigration laws (which are only going to get stricter!)
March 2013. Rob Whiteman moved sideways to a much smaller job, (but with the same salary) as Director General, Operational Systems Transformation at the Home Office.
June 2013. Rob Whiteman appointed Chief Executive of CIPFA, (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy). It is the professional body for people in public finance. So he falls on his feet.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmhaff/781/121127.htm
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmpubacc/c550-i/uc55001.htm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/10114217/Immigration-chief-system-may-never-be-fixed.html
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmpubadm/uc229-ii/uc22901.htm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10118384/Teflon-civil-servants-who-never-feel-the-heat.html
So there you have it. Rob Whiteman, (Common Purpose) rewarded for incompetence. Another reason to vote, “Yes” to independence in September. Many millions of taxpayers money flushed down the drain and many hundreds of thousands of immigrants in the UK without government knowledge. Disaster right enough.
caltonjock 