The Home Secretary hailed Mr Downer’s “wealth of experience” as a leading minister behind Australia’s “Pacific solution” in 2001.
Nicknamed the “immigration guru,” he played a key role in Canberra’s controversial asylum seeker “pushback” policy.
In a statement, Ms Patel said: “I look forward to his findings and recommendations.
“Since Border Force was set up in 2011, its remit has grown to meet the changing border threats we face, and in recent years has supported delivery of the Government’s Brexit commitments and Covid-19 measures.
“The public rightly expects this work to be carried out to the highest possible standard, which is why I have ordered this review of Border Force to identify ways in which it can keep improving its operations.”
Alexander Downer
Wikicommons
His appointment comes as pressure mounts on the Government to shake up Britain’s border controls.
Mr Downer will specifically look at the influence of unions over the agency’s effectiveness.
He will also assess immigration checks at ports and airports, counter-smuggling operations as well as dealing with asylum claims.
The 70-year-old said: “I am delighted that the Home Secretary has asked me to lead an independent review of Border Force, to ensure the UK’s border is protected from the changing threats of today, and prepared for future challenges.
“As an independent reviewer, I plan to lead a review that is robust, evidence-based and outcome-orientated.”
His report will be due within months and could pave the way for the complete overhaul of Border Force.
A merger with Immigration Enforcement, which deals with organised crime, visa-breakers and foreign criminals, has been touted.
Priti Patel sat alongside Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson in the Commons
UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor
Thousands of people risked their lives attempting to cross the Channel to the UK in 2021, despite the journey being fraught with peril.
Men, women and children crammed into unsafe dinghies reached Britain from France on more than 40% of days last year.
At least 28,395 people reached the UK on small boats last year alone.
Mr Downer will likely be seen as a controversial choice, given his CV.
He is one of the leading advocates of Australia’s policy of blocking asylum seekers’ boats off its coastline.
Boats heading Down Under are stopped at sea, refuelled and redirected away from Australia.
This “pushback” policy was introduced in 2001 and returned in 2013 after it was briefly stopped by Canberra’s Labour government in 2008.
Mr Downer was the Australian Liberal Party’s minister for foreign affairs from 1996 to 2007.
He was also Australia’s High Commissioner to the UK from 2014 to 2018.
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