Dozens of ‘unqualified’ workers hired to patrol M20 after Brexit amid traffic jam fears Exclusive: The Government has advertised for enforcement officers with no experience necessary

Dozens of inexperienced workers are being hired by the “desperate” Government to patrol the road to Dover after Brexit amid fears of chaotic traffic jams.

Temporary contractors will be used to check the paperwork of lorry drivers heading towards the continent and make sure they are “border ready”.

Critics accused ministers of putting “unqualified and untrained officers” in charge of vital post-Brexit operations.

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A recruitment agency working for Highways England last week placed adverts online, including on Facebook, to hire 50 people to start work on 28 October, three days before Britain is scheduled to leave the EU.

‘No experience required’

The workers will be based along the M20 near Maidstone in Kent, with three eight-hour shifts ensuring the road is patrolled around the clock. Their main task would be “to check lorry drivers and ensure that they have the appropriate documentation with them”.

An ad placed on Facebook by a recruiter says: “NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!!!” It adds the roles will last at least two months but are likely to be longer.

The enforcement officers will have the power to issue hauliers with documents stating they are ready to go through border checks at the Port of Dover or the Channel Tunnel, i understands. They will also help the police create holding areas for lorries at times of heavy congestion on the M20.

It is not clear whether the employment scheme, which is funded directly by the Department for Transport, will still take place if Brexit is delayed or if the UK enters a transition period under the terms of a revised Withdrawal Agreement.

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott told i: “The Government’s Brexit plans are so chaotic that unqualified and untrained officers are being sought to patrol our motorways. These amateurish plans are a risk to public safety.”

‘Severe delays’

Tom Brake, the Liberal Democrats’ Brexit spokesman, added: “It is no wonder a no-deal Brexit will cause severe delays on the approaches to the border, when ministers are desperately rushing at the last minute to hire unqualified officers to patrol the M20.”

A spokesman for Highways England said: “We are committed to playing an active role in keeping the country moving, and the activation of Operation Brock earlier this year shows that we have robust plans for safely queuing lorries heading to the continent while keeping the M20 open in both directions.

“We have taken on the additional task of helping the Government with pre-border readiness checks on the M20, if they are needed. The arrangements include limited additional powers for our traffic officers, but these are specific to Operation Brock and we do not have an enforcement role. We may need additional temporary staff to assist us with this, but they will not be carrying out the day-to-day duties of our traffic officers and will have appropriate training.”

28 October is also the date announced as the start of “Operation Brock”, a package of measures to manage traffic on motorways in Kent. Lorries driving towards the ports will have to obey a 30mph limit on much of the M20, while other vehicles will be confined to two lanes in each direction.

Manston airport is one of several holding areas ready to take overflow traffic if the roads slow to a halt. Transport minister Chris Heaton-Harris said: “We want residents in Kent and hauliers travelling from across the EU to be reassured that there are robust plans in place to deal with any disruption in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Operation Brock was previously introduced before the original Brexit deadline of 29 March.