UK Borders Bill
4:30 pm
Richard Thomas: Having looked at what the members of the Committee said on Second Reading, I saw that the issue has not been raised just by yourself. Our concern is that from the 1999, 2002 and 2004 Acts, there have been extended powers to immigration officers. What has not gone on at the same time has been the support provisions that go with that for training officers and ensuring that they have access to the relevant Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 training. Those officers are going to be acting in sensitive situations, some politically so and some involving vulnerable clients. Such considerations led to PACE in the first place, to ensure proper faith in and effective use of the justice system; however one looks at this, if those powers are to be enforced effectively, that must be done in the appropriate manner. That happened for the police service with PACE, which provides protection to the police and to those in their custody. At the moment, the powers of immigration officers are extending, but we are concerned that they do not have the appropriate training or legislative structure to act within.