Free Ports, Not Safe Havens: Preventing Crime in the UK’s Future Freeports

Anton Moiseienko, Alexandria Reid, Isabella Chase, ’Free Ports, Not Safe Havens: Preventing Crime in the UK’s Future Freeports’, RUSI Briefing Paper, April 2020.

In July 2019, the UK government announced plans to establish at least 10 new freeports to attract trade and investment following the UK’s departure from the EU.

This Briefing Paper makes recommendations that will help strengthen the UK’s ability to prevent illicit trade in its future freeports. 

These recommendations relate to: 

• The need to assess existing criminal risks in the geographical locations where freeports will be established.

• The need for proportionate responses to the risk profile and volume of activity taking place in freeports.

• The possibility that the envisaged ‘light-touch’ authorisation procedures for businesses will make it difficult to assess the risks they pose.

• The need for regular review of the effectiveness of Freeport Operators in discharging their security-related responsibilities.

Access the paper here.