§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures the police are expected to follow if they suspect someone of being an illegal immigrant.
§ Mr. RaisonThe police are expected to carry out their duty to investigate cases where they have reasonable cause to suspect that someone may be an illegal entrant, but to do so having regard to the sensitivity of such operations. Individual force procedures are a matter for chief officers.
§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the last year the Metropolitan Police have organised raids in public places in order to arrest people suspected of being illegal immigrants.
§ Mr. RaisonI understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that he maintains no central record of the number of operations mounted in connection with suspected immigration offences.
§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the police raid on the Bestway Cash & Carry in Park Royal Estate on 13 May; how many people were taken subsequently to Kilburn police station; how long each was detained there; how many were charged subsequently and with what offence; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RaisonThis was a joint operation by police and immigration officers following extensive inquiries which had revealed evidence of possible immigration offences. I understand that of the 17 people arrested and taken to Kilburn police station two were found to be illegal284W immigrants, two were overstayers for whom detention orders were subsequently issued, one was charged as an overstayer and one had committed another immigration offence. The remaining 11 people were detained for the following periods :
Approximate period of detention Number of People 1 hour … … … … 2 4 hours … … … … 4 5 hours … … … … 2 6 hours … … … … 3
§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis on the number of occasions on which immigrants have been asked by officers of the Metropolitan Police to produce their passports; if he will list each occasion when this has occurred; and what are the circumstances in which officers of the Metropolitan Police require of any citizen the production of a passport.
§ Mr. RaisonInformation regarding the numbers of occasions on which immigrants have been asked by officers of the Metropolitan Police to produce their passports is not available. A police officer would be entitled to ask a person to produce a passport where it appeared relevant to the offence that was under investigation.