Originally Posted by
bealine
.....and to those who think they are a "customer" of UK Border Agency, I wouldn't advise getting shirty with them. They have wide-reaching powers, far in excess of the police or military should they wish to exercise them!
The Immigration Officers have the powers of arrest and detention. Those who are designated as Customs Officers have the same along with very wide ranging powers of search and entry to a premises.
That however, is about it. Aside from the power of Customs Officers to enter and search without the need for a specific permit, they are no more powerful than a Police Officer.
That said, I agree with the general sentiment of not getting shirty with anyone who has the power to detain you on the basis that it's your own time that you are wasting.