§ Mr. Maddenasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what categories of passenger are exempt from being stripped and searched by Customs and Excise staff on arrival at United Kingdom ports of entry; and what action is taken against any passenger who refuses to agree to being stripped and searched.
§ Mr. Brooke[pursuant to his reply, 15 December 1986, c. 425–26]: Exemption from search is confined to very limited categories of persons falling to be considered under the Diplomatic Privilege Act 1964, the State Immunity Act 1978 or the International Organisations Act 1968. Typically these categories could involve only such as a sovereign or head of state or accredited diplomats and their families.
Any passenger refusing to agree to be searched has the right to be taken before either a superior of the officer requiring the search to be made or a justice of the peace who, if satisfied that the search is justified, will direct accordingly.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many men, women and young people aged under 18 years have been stripped and searched by Customs and Excise staff at Leeds/Bradford airport in the current year to date.
§ Mr. Brooke[pursuant to his reply, 15 December 1986, c. 425–26]: Customs search records do not identify separately those persons who have been stripped and searched or indicate age groups. In the year to date 228 passengers have been searched at Leeds/Bradford airport of whom 179 were male and 49 female.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many visitors to the United Kingdom, including those 498W holding a visitor's visa, have been stripped and searched at terminals 3 and 4 at Heathrow airport in the current year to date.
§ Mr. Brooke[pursuant to his reply, 15 December 1986, c. 425–26]: Customs search records do not identify separately those persons who have been stripped and searched or distinguish between visitors and United Kingdom residents. In the year to date some 7,770 and 4,080 passengers respectively have been searched at terminals 3 and 4 at Heathrow airport.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions have been issued to Customs and Excise staff at ports of entry in the United Kingdom concerning the stripping and searching of passengers; and if he will place a copy of such instructions in the Library.
§ Mr. Brooke[pursuant to his reply, 15 December 1986, c. 425–26]: Customs officers are instructed that power to search passengers is provided for under section 164 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that dutiable, prohibited or restricted goods are being carried. A copy of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 is already held in the Library. It is not the practice to publish the Department's internal standing instructions.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what clothing is available at Leeds/Bradford airport and other ports of entry in the United Kingdom for passengers to wear whilst their own clothing is being searched by Customs and Excise staff.
§ Mr. Brooke[pursuant to his reply, 15 December 1986, c. 425–26]: At Leeds/Bradford airport and other ports of entry searches by Customs officers are usually conducted step-by-step and in most cases the limited extent of search precludes the need to provide alternative clothing or blankets but such provision is available as required in appropriate cases.