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http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpres ... 050825892ABorder Agency IT system a 'mess'(UKPA) – 3rd May 2012 The UK Border Agency's IT system has collapsed under the volume of applications being made, forcing senior executives and foreign investors to consider taking their business elsewhere, a partner at one of Britain's top law firms has said.
Andrew Tingley, an immigration lawyer at Kingsley Napley, said it was "beyond farcical" that new rules requiring foreign nationals from outside the EU to have a biometric residents permit had left the IT system unable to cope.
"The system that was introduced was not fit for purpose," he said. "It was close to collapse a few weeks ago. It has now collapsed. It's an absolute mess."
The row comes after Labour accused the Home Office of drifting "from one shambles to another" as it battles with concerns over queues of up to three hours at Heathrow airport in the run-up to this summer's Olympic Games.
Mr Tingley also claimed the delays at the border were being made worse by the time taken for the system to validate travellers' fingerprints and warned of the impact on the UK's economy. He said most senior executives, investors, entrepreneurs and leaders of industry need their application for a biometric residents' permit to be decided on a same-day basis.
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