"Committed public servant" named Customs and Immigration Head

Monday 05 August 2019

A "committed public servant", who has been holding the position of Acting Head of Customs and Immigration for the past 15 months, has been named as the new permanent Head of Service.

Former Victoria College pupil Mark Cockerham joined the Customs and Excise Department as an Executive Officer in 1986.

He was promoted to Senior Officer at the Airport in 1997 and held positions as Senior Officer in Intelligence, Frontiers, and Investigation between 1998 and 2003.

Between 2003 to 2013, he held several Assistant Director positions before being named Director of Enforcement and then Director of Revenue and Immigration in 2016. 

Pictured: Mark Cockerham joined the Customs and Excise Department as an Executive Officer in 1986.

During his time in the service, he led numerous intelligence operations - working jointly with States of Jersey Police, Guernsey Border Agency, the French Investigation Service and UK enforcement agencies - which resulted in several large commercial drug seizures with associated extraditions and prosecutions. 

More recently, Mr Cockerham worked with the Group Director at Customer and Local Services to establish a framework for Passports, Legalisation and Customs clearance. 

In his new role, he will be working on behalf of both the Minister for Home Affairs, Constable Len Norman, and the Group Director for Justice and Home Affairs, Julian Blazeby.

He will be responsible for protecting Jersey’s borders by preventing unlawful entry by people and prohibited goods, and will also hold the position of Agent of the Impôts, which is linked to the Comptroller of Taxes to collect import duties.  

Pictured: Mr Cockerham helped develop a framework for Passports, Legalisation and Customs clearance. 

"Mark has been a committed public servant for more than 30 years and in that time he has worked to enhance delivery of the service that protects our borders and ensures immigration is managed effectively," Julian Blazeby, the Director General for Justice and Home Affairs, said.

"More recently the impact of Brexit has led to additional challenges, and Mark has overseen the service’s preparations. [as strategic lead for his department’s Brexit preparation]" 

“Our main focus in Justice and Home Affairs is to keep islanders safe, and we are fortunate that our law enforcement and emergency services are led by such dedicated and professional public servants," Mr Blazeby added. "I congratulate Mark on his appointment and look forward to continuing to work together to keep our community secure.”

Pictured: Mr Cockerham is the strategic lead for Customs and Immigration’s Brexit preparations.

Mr Cockerham added: “It’s a real privilege to be given the opportunity to take on this role. There are a number of challenges when considering the movement of goods and people into Jersey, and of course Brexit is a major factor in future border control.

"But the safety and security of the Island is paramount. I am very fortunate to lead a dedicated team and I look forward to working with my equally committed colleagues from across Justice and Home Affairs.”