The UK Border Agency's Chief Executive, Lin Homer, has confirmed that contingency plans are in place to minimise delays, and that UK border security will not be compromised by the industrial action.

Lin Homer said:

'PCS union members have voted in favour of a third day of strike action on Wednesday 24 March over changes to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS).

'During the last strike, disruption at ports and airports was kept to a minimum, with the vast majority of our facilities and services remaining open for business.

'We expect that people travelling into the country may experience some delays at border control, but we will work hard to continue to keep these to a minimum and hope that passengers will welcome the commitment of those staff who are working despite the strike action to ensure we check passengers through the controls as quickly as possible.'

Public enquiry offices and immigration reporting centres are expected to operate as normal, with the exception of Croydon public enquiry office, which will be operating a limited service. Where disruption is expected, customers with appointments have already been contacted. The nationality contact centre, asylum support contact centre and European enquiries contact centre will all be closed.