The temporary post-Brexit arrangements for customs checks on goods arriving in Dover could be taken advantage of by criminals, the public spending watchdog has warned.

A report by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) warned that lorries having to go to Ebbsfleet for physical checks increased the risk that "goods could be offloaded on the way".

In its report, which was published today, the committee flagged the potential for smuggling and illicit activity from the delays to permanent import controls.

It said: "We also note the potential risks caused by delays putting in place the necessary permanent infrastructure: for example, until the Dover White Cliffs site becomes operational in 2023 trucks arriving in Dover that are carrying goods selected for physical checks will have to travel 60 miles to Ebbsfleet.

"The further the inland sites are from the ports, the greater the risk that goods could be offloaded on the way."

It went on to say the situation "was not ideal".

However, it added "that the situation would improve over time".

Overall, the report concluded that UK trade with the EU has been knocked by Brexit and businesses have faced higher costs, more paperwork and border delays since Britain’s withdrawal.

It found that while it was difficult to untangle how much of the hit to trade since the end of the Brexit transition on December 31, 2020, has been caused by the pandemic and how much by Brexit, it was “clear that EU exit has had an impact”.

It said that far from freeing up firms to boost productivity and contribution to the economy, the “only detectable impact” of Brexit so far has been to increase the burdens on businesses.

The committee said the government had “much more work” to do to ease the administration and costs woes suffered by firms.

It also warned over the potential for lengthy border delays and lorry queues once passenger numbers return to normal as expected later this year, given that new border arrangements have not yet been tested at levels seen before the pandemic struck.

The committee said this could be compounded by further checks at ports, such as Dover, under the EU’s new Entry and Exit system.

In its critical assessment of the impact of Brexit on the UK border, it slammed the government over repeated delays to introduce full import controls, which are due to to be phased in from last month, and called for an end to “overpromising”.

It dismissed the government’s aim to create the “most effective border in the world” by 2025 as being “optimistic, given where things stand today”.

Dame Meg Hillier, chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), said: “One of the great promises of Brexit was freeing British businesses to give them the headroom to maximise their productivity and contribution to the economy – even more desperately needed now on the long road to recovery from the pandemic.

“Yet the only detectable impact so far is increased costs, paperwork and border delays.

“The PAC has repeatedly reported on Brexit preparedness and at every step there have been delays to promised deadlines.

“It’s time the government was honest about the problems rather than overpromising.”

The cross-party group of MPs wants the government to fully calculate the extra costs to businesses from new border requirements and look at ways to reduce this, as well as the red tape.

The government should also do more to help small firms prepare for the extra burdens and consider further support.

It said that only £6.7 million was paid out of the £20m offered under the SME Brexit Support Fund as many businesses missed out on the funding due to narrowly defined criteria.

“There is much more work that government should be doing in the short term to understand and minimise the current burden on those trading with the EU, to address the immediate delivery and readiness risks in introducing import controls, and to have a border in place which is operating effectively without further delays or temporary measures,” said Dame Meg.