§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what powers an immigration officer may copy personal correspondence in the possession of persons applying for temporary visitors' visas on arrival in the United Kingdom; and for how long such copies may be retained by his Department.
§ Mr. Charles WardleUnder the Immigration Act 1971 an immigration officer may examine and detain for up to seven days a document produced to him or found on a search.
It is standard practice to photocopy such documents and the copies may be retained as long as considered necessary, but are normally destroyed after three years.