Clue launches new report on the future of UK Maritime and Border Security

As the UK faces an increasingly complex and volatile border environment, we’ve released a comprehensive new report, Securing the UK’s Maritime and Border Domains: The Imperative for Integrated Intelligence. The report explores the evolving threat landscape and provides a roadmap for a smarter, intelligence-led approach to national security.

From hostile state activity and grey zone operations to AI-enabled smuggling and insider threats, the UK’s border and maritime sectors are under intense pressure. As highlighted in the report’s foreword by Matt Horne, Director of Intelligence & Investigations at Clue, “The risks facing the UK’s borders and maritime domain have never been higher.”

Drawing on insights from law enforcement professionals, intelligence experts, and data from agencies such as the National Crime Agency (NCA), the report outlines the top five threats facing UK border security, including:

• Irregular migration and organised immigration crime
• Hybrid threats to critical infrastructure
• Sophisticated smuggling operations
• Insider infiltration at ports and customs
• Criminal exploitation of AI and emerging technologies

In the report, Matt warns that “AI is not just a tool for enhancing efficiency; it’s becoming a weapon in the hands of those seeking to exploit border vulnerabilities.” The document details how criminals are now using deepfake technology, AI-guided drones, and even impersonation of officials to bypass security systems.

In response to these evolving threats, the report calls for an integrated, intelligence-led approach to security. “Success depends on robust multi-agency coordination, seamless international cooperation, and the timely, effective sharing of intelligence,” Matt writes.

The report underscores the importance of breaking down data silos between agencies and equipping frontline personnel with the tools they need to act decisively. It makes a strong case for technology as an enabler of cross-agency collaboration, particularly platforms like Clue’s, which support secure, scalable case and intelligence management.

Available to access here, this is essential reading for professionals in national security, immigration, customs, maritime enforcement, and anyone responsible for safeguarding the UK’s borders.