Commentary Use and disclosure of information Section 23: Investigations and detention: England and Wales and Northern Ireland
105.Sections 24(1) and (2) allow the Secretary of State by order to provide for the application of provisions of PACE and PACE (NI) to criminal investigations conducted by designated customs officials or immigration officers, or to persons detained by such officials or officers as part of a criminal investigation, subject to such modifications as the order may specify.
106.Subsection (3) provides that an order made under section 23 may make similar provision for designated customs officials, immigration officers, the Secretary of State or the Director to that which may be made in relation to officers of Revenue and Customs or the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs under Section 114 of PACE and Article 85 of PACE (NI).
107.Subsection (4) provides that, if an order under section 23 stipulates that a function may be exercised only by a person with the authority of the Secretary of State or the Director, a certificate of the Secretary of State or, as the case may be, the Director that the person had the requisite authority shall be conclusive evidence of that fact.
108.Subsection (5) provides for an order made under this section to amend or repeal section 22. This will enable the provisions of PACE or PACE (NI), as the case may be, and the associated Codes of Practice, to be applied more directly to designated customs officials, rather than by transposing provisions in the Revenue and Customs PACE Orders as is the case under section 22. It will also allow the specification of relevant provisions of PACE, PACE (NI) and the associated Codes of Practice which will apply to any criminal investigation conducted by immigration officers and to persons detained by those officers as part of any criminal investigation.