§ Patrick MercerTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce container and goods vehicles scanning to detect illegal entry of(a) persons and (b) goods at ports of entry. [134117]
§ John HealeyMobile freight scanners were introduced by HM Customs and Excise in a phased rollout between November 2000 and April 2003 for the detection of smuggled goods. There are currently 13 Customs scanners deployed at ports around the country.
The UK Immigration Service (UKIS) currently operates a Gamma Scanner at the port of Dover for the detection of clandestine entrants. The scanner is deployed jointly with Customs and is capable of finding clandestine entrants and goods.
213WA second gamma scanner, owned by UKIS, was loaned to the Belgian Federal Maritime Police in August 2003. It is operated jointly by the Belgian Federal Police and the UK Immigration Service at Zeebrugge and Ostende, and on the approach routes to both ports.