Enforcement Powers Section 16: Information about passengers
70.Section 16 amends paragraph 27B of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 to make it clear that an immigration officer may ask a carrier to provide a copy of a document (or part of a document) that relates to a passenger and contains “passenger information” (as that term is defined in paragraph 27B). In particular, this means that the owner of a ship or aircraft which is expected to arrive in the United Kingdom could be requested to provide a copy of the biodata page of the passport (containing a photograph of the holder), of each passenger to be carried to the United Kingdom on that ship or aircraft. An officer may ask for copies of documents relating to: (a) a particular ship or aircraft of the carrier, (b) particular ships or aircraft of the carrier, or (c) all of the carrier’s ships or aircraft. A request must be in writing and must state the date on which it ceases to have effect (which cannot be more than six months from the date on which it is made).