UK Border Force strike: armed forces cannot detain people, emails reveal

theguardian.com:

Soldiers and sailors covering for striking Border Force staff at passport control do not have the power to detain people they suspect of criminal activity, leaked documents show.

Emails reveal that people suspected of crimes such as carrying a false passport, drug smuggling, people trafficking and victims of modern slavery cannot be stopped by members of the armed forces if they hold valid travel documents.

Instead, a separate intervention has to be sought for suspected serious criminals or their victims from a fully trained Border Force officer, most of whom are currently on strike.

One Royal Navy officer warned in the emails that the inability to detain might “impact op [operational] capability during industrial action”.

The disclosure goes some way to explain why there has been little disruption at UK ports and airport since the PCS strike for improved pay and conditions began on Friday.

One email, sent on 22 December, shows that a Royal Navy sub-lieutenant wrote to Border Force and Home Office civil servants asking whether Royal Navy staff working at Manchester had the power to detain suspects.

He wrote: “RN personnel currently deployed at Manchester airport are currently prevented from completion and issue of IS81 and must not be involved in detention activity, referring to a BF officer. This may impact op [operational] capability during industrial action.”

An IS81 form gives immigration officers the authority to detain people while they undertake further inquiries, according to Home Office documents. It has to be issued even if someone is detained for just two minutes for a minor check.

A senior Border Force officer replied, saying that armed personnel had not been given enough training to detain suspects.

“Received email