You do know that a Chief Immigration Officer is not a senior position in the Border Force? It’s remarkable that Saunders gets so much media attention, not least that, as Casdon points out, he has been retired for eight years.
CIO is an HEO grade in the Civil Service just three grades up from the most junior of admin staff. After that you have Immigration Officer (SEO) then Assistant Director (Grade 7), Deputy Director (Grade 6), Director (SCS1), Senior Director (SCS2) then Director General (SCS3).
The two most senior officers in Border Force are Director General Phil Douglas and Chief Operating Officer Steve Dann.
Would I care to name someone more experienced? Yes, I would. Steve Dann. The proof is here:
www.gov.uk/government/people/steve-dann
As opposed to Saunders who describes himself on LinkedIn:
I am an expert in the working on the UK border and control system, and the juxtaposed controls in France.I worked closely the French frontier police (PAF) and French customs authority. I worked with both DFDS and P&O to make the ferry crossing of the Channel efficient and secure.
Just a sample of socials about Saunders:
Astonishing that someone as dim and inarticulate as Kevin Saunders could ever have risen to be the chief of UK Border Force (which of course he didn’t). Defends the Tory Rwanda rendition scam, yet can’t answer a single question about how Israel’s Rwanda scheme ended in farce. Thick as a brick.
Why does BBC R4 keep interviewing Kevin Saunders & introducing him as former Border Force Chief Immigration Officer, implying he was in charge of the Border Force, when he was a CIO - what is now called a Border Force Higher Officer and thus one of many middle managers?
Nasty, ignorant racist Kevin Saunders is on BBC again spewing bile. Saunders is an embarrassing repellent man. Hideous on the outside and inside.