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Any new border police for the UK should have responsibility for cargo as well as people, says the British International Freight Association. BIFA, which represents Britain's freight forwarders, wants the management of checks on cargo and cargo carriers to be simplified to minimise delays.

Chris Starns, BIFA's trade policy manager, says that presently as many as 15 separate agencies can check incoming freight. He argues that for incoming vehicles a risk assessment should enable the  authorities to decide where their attention should best be focused, with a multi-disciplinary team then carrying out any necessary checks.

He adds: "As things stand, we have a whole range of potential checks, stretching from VOSA to fisheries inspectors and even seed inspectors. A proper risk assessment should mean you only pull those vehicles you need to pull."

The government is reviewing all its border security arrangements. It states: "To strengthen the powers and surveillance capability of our border guards and security officers, we will now integrate the vital work of the Border and Immigration Agency, Customs and UKvisas overseas at the main points of entry to the UK and establish a unified border force."

BIFA's director general Colin Beaumont says: "We would urge the Cabinet Secretary, Sir Gus O'Donnell, to use the opportunity of his wider review to seriously consider going further than currently envisaged and propose the establishment of a single UK border  agency to encompass all relevant activities."