http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15750722Brodie Clark admits that these relaxation on immigrant controls were approved by Labour Ministers in 2007 .... although the Labour Ministers involved apparently cannot recall the details. He goes onto to admit that he should "perhaps" have given the Tory Home Sec more information but says he is surprised that nobody did. Meanwhile UK Border Agency's Chief Executive, Rob Whiteman, said Mr Clark dropped fingerprint checks without telling ministers, even though they had rejected such a move as part of the pilot.
A little background on Mr Clark:
Clark started his career in the Her Majesty's Prison Service, accumulating 22 years of service, attaining the position as director of HMP Whitemoor.
He was governor of Whitemoor in 1994, when six prisoners including Paul Magee and other IRA members, escaped from the prison's Special Secure Unit after smuggling a gun into the prison. All were later recaptured.
Moved to the UK Border Agency, Clark was placed in charge of the Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre, which was managed by Group 4. In February 2002, the building was burnt down following a protest by the detainees, triggered by someone being physically restrained by staff. When the fires started the Head of Group 4 security ordered all staff to exit the building, locking the detainees inside the timber framed building, resulting in five people being injured in the fireNot that I am suggesting that Mr Clark is anything other than extraordinarily unlucky but you have to wonder if "Accident waiting to happen" wouldn't be a better nickname.
