§ Mr. Norman Atkinsonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statutory authority immigration officers have to enter private houses and to search persons and their personal belongings; and if he will set up a complaints procedure through which members of the public can lodge complaints against immigration officers.
§ Mr. RaisonImmigration officers have no statutory powers to enter private houses or to search persons in them. Their powers to search passengers in the course of their duties are contained in schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971. Any complaints about individual immigration officers are carefully investigated. If the hon. Member has a particular incident in mind, I will, if he sends me details, have inquiries made.