Long queues at T5 border control
Apr 26, 2012, 1:12 pm
#196
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One could argue that under (a) the holder of the passport is free to enter. It can be proved to any official without having to queue.
Not that I'm prepared to test that, of course.
Not that I'm prepared to test that, of course.
Apr 26, 2012, 1:15 pm
#197
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On a related note, does a UK Border Force officer have the right to question a British Citizen as they enter the UK?
I once found myself being subjected to a barrage of questions about where I had been and what I had been doing. This was at 0600, after I had had a nightmare journey back from Canada and been up for something like 36 hours straight. In a somewhat idiotic fit of pique, I refused to answer any of these questions on the grounds that they were academic as she couldn't deny me entry anyway. I was let through without another word.
I'll freely admit that in hindsight, even though my mind was clouded by a severe lack of sleep, this was a reasonably stupid thing to do and the immigration officer could probably have made my life fairly unpleasant had she wanted to do so, but was I technically within my rights to refuse to answer questions about my activities outside the country? These, incidentally, were entirely non-nefarious as I'd been at a conference and visiting friends.
I once found myself being subjected to a barrage of questions about where I had been and what I had been doing. This was at 0600, after I had had a nightmare journey back from Canada and been up for something like 36 hours straight. In a somewhat idiotic fit of pique, I refused to answer any of these questions on the grounds that they were academic as she couldn't deny me entry anyway. I was let through without another word.
I'll freely admit that in hindsight, even though my mind was clouded by a severe lack of sleep, this was a reasonably stupid thing to do and the immigration officer could probably have made my life fairly unpleasant had she wanted to do so, but was I technically within my rights to refuse to answer questions about my activities outside the country? These, incidentally, were entirely non-nefarious as I'd been at a conference and visiting friends.
Apr 26, 2012, 1:17 pm
#198
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I mean presumably there must be some penalty for failure to submit to the required examination, irrespective of whether one is free of control or not. Maybe one of the current/past Immigration Officers who contribute to FT can enlighten us?
Apr 26, 2012, 1:20 pm
#199
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On a related note, does a UK Border Force officer have the right to question a British Citizen as they enter the UK?
I once found myself being subjected to a barrage of questions about where I had been and what I had been doing. This was at 0600, after I have hada nightmare journey back from Canada and been up for something like 36 hours straight. In a somewhat idiotic fit of pique, I refused to answer any of these questions on the ground that they were academic as she couldn't deny me entry anyway. I was let through without another word.
I'll freely admit that in hindsight, even though my mind was clouded by a severe lack of sleep, this was a reasonably stupid thing to do and the immigration officer could probably have made my life fairly unpleasant had she wanted to do so, but was I technically within my rights to refuse to answer questions about my activities outside the country (which, incidentally, were entirely non-nefarious as I'd been at a conference and visiting friends)?
I once found myself being subjected to a barrage of questions about where I had been and what I had been doing. This was at 0600, after I have hada nightmare journey back from Canada and been up for something like 36 hours straight. In a somewhat idiotic fit of pique, I refused to answer any of these questions on the ground that they were academic as she couldn't deny me entry anyway. I was let through without another word.
I'll freely admit that in hindsight, even though my mind was clouded by a severe lack of sleep, this was a reasonably stupid thing to do and the immigration officer could probably have made my life fairly unpleasant had she wanted to do so, but was I technically within my rights to refuse to answer questions about my activities outside the country (which, incidentally, were entirely non-nefarious as I'd been at a conference and visiting friends)?
I posted a thread elsewhere the other day (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/u-k-i...ort-pages.html) about IOs at MAN seeming to having taken to snooping through the pages/stamps of my British passport of late after scanning the data page. I find this somewhat annoying as mentioned in the thread, but as you said it is probably wise not to make too much of an issue of it for fear, rightly or wrongly, of considerably extending the time taken to pass Border Control
.
Last edited by SteelCityBoy; Apr 26, 2012 at 1:28 pm
Apr 26, 2012, 1:26 pm
#200
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From Wikipedia:
However, Immigration Officers also have far broader powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 to examine, question, and search anyone in order to establish whether or not they appear to be or have been concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.[9] A person may be detained under Schedule 7 for up to 9 hours.[10] The Immigration Officer need not have reasonable suspicion that the detainee has in fact been involved in terrorism.[11] The detainee has a duty to provide the Immigration Officer with all information requested and a failure to do so constitutes an offence, punishable by 3 months imprisonment and a fine.
Apr 26, 2012, 1:34 pm
#201
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Ahhh … that factor. i shell shave my beard and ask the iWife to stop wearing her [item of ethnic clothing].
Otherwise, as a pair of perfectly ordinary white Anglo-Saxons of British ancestry with British passports … and with loads of time to make the connecting flight from LGW … they'd better have some bloody good reason for imputing terrorism.
We are gently drifting into a Police State, aren't we? As ex-Military, I fully understand the rationale. I just question [deeply] the quality and training of the people who are acting as the first line of defence. And, of course, the number of them provided to carry out this vital task in the National Interest. [/RANT]
Otherwise, as a pair of perfectly ordinary white Anglo-Saxons of British ancestry with British passports … and with loads of time to make the connecting flight from LGW … they'd better have some bloody good reason for imputing terrorism.
We are gently drifting into a Police State, aren't we? As ex-Military, I fully understand the rationale. I just question [deeply] the quality and training of the people who are acting as the first line of defence. And, of course, the number of them provided to carry out this vital task in the National Interest. [/RANT]
Apr 26, 2012, 2:26 pm
#202
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That sounds right in principle but I guess there are ppl with fake passports (or having somone elses!) so there has to be some sort of checking process
Apr 26, 2012, 2:28 pm
#203
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I'll freely admit that in hindsight, even though my mind was clouded by a severe lack of sleep, this was a reasonably stupid thing to do and the immigration officer could probably have made my life fairly unpleasant had she wanted to do so, but was I technically within my rights to refuse to answer questions about my activities outside the country? These, incidentally, were entirely non-nefarious as I'd been at a conference and visiting friends.
Apr 26, 2012, 3:39 pm
#206
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: London
Posts: 281
On a related note, does a UK Border Force officer have the right to question a British Citizen as they enter the UK?
I once found myself being subjected to a barrage of questions about where I had been and what I had been doing. This was at 0600, after I had had a nightmare journey back from Canada and been up for something like 36 hours straight. In a somewhat idiotic fit of pique, I refused to answer any of these questions on the grounds that they were academic as she couldn't deny me entry anyway. I was let through without another word.
I'll freely admit that in hindsight, even though my mind was clouded by a severe lack of sleep, this was a reasonably stupid thing to do and the immigration officer could probably have made my life fairly unpleasant had she wanted to do so, but was I technically within my rights to refuse to answer questions about my activities outside the country? These, incidentally, were entirely non-nefarious as I'd been at a conference and visiting friends.
I once found myself being subjected to a barrage of questions about where I had been and what I had been doing. This was at 0600, after I had had a nightmare journey back from Canada and been up for something like 36 hours straight. In a somewhat idiotic fit of pique, I refused to answer any of these questions on the grounds that they were academic as she couldn't deny me entry anyway. I was let through without another word.
I'll freely admit that in hindsight, even though my mind was clouded by a severe lack of sleep, this was a reasonably stupid thing to do and the immigration officer could probably have made my life fairly unpleasant had she wanted to do so, but was I technically within my rights to refuse to answer questions about my activities outside the country? These, incidentally, were entirely non-nefarious as I'd been at a conference and visiting friends.
Do you have Pakistani parentage?
Apr 26, 2012, 4:03 pm
#208
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Gordon Brown made this mess when he merged the Inland Revenue with H.M. Customs & Excise, and then moved the Uniformed part of Customs to form up with parts of the immigration service to form this UKBA monster.
A lot of re-arranging and meddling to no good end.
A UKBA officer can also use CEMA 1979, a powerful piece of legislation that empowers Officers to ask about your baggage, declaration, etc.
So an Officer is empowered to ask where are you arriving from, if you have visited other countries, if baggage belongs to you, if you have been given anything by anybody else, etc, etc.
As a yacht skipper I sometimes arrive on what the UKBA might term as "High Risk" flights (Caribbean etc) and have been questioned many times, often fairly lengthy, but I have never felt the Officer has over-stepped the mark, they have just been trying to confirm my credibility, ownership of baggage etc.....
A lot of re-arranging and meddling to no good end.
A UKBA officer can also use CEMA 1979, a powerful piece of legislation that empowers Officers to ask about your baggage, declaration, etc.
So an Officer is empowered to ask where are you arriving from, if you have visited other countries, if baggage belongs to you, if you have been given anything by anybody else, etc, etc.
As a yacht skipper I sometimes arrive on what the UKBA might term as "High Risk" flights (Caribbean etc) and have been questioned many times, often fairly lengthy, but I have never felt the Officer has over-stepped the mark, they have just been trying to confirm my credibility, ownership of baggage etc.....
Apr 26, 2012, 4:28 pm
#209
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"It is estimated that the money being used for the uniforms could pay for 800 immigration officers"
800 immigration officers @ £3125 each! Quality reporting from the Torygraph
