UK Borders bill is now the UK Borders Act

• Posted on Oct 31, 2007

UK Borders bill is now the UK Borders Act
* introduces a Code of Practice to keep Children Safe from Harm which the Border and Immigration Agency will have regard to when dealing with children
* introduces compulsory ID Cards for foreign nationals which will help tackle fraud, illegal working and multiple identity
* provides new powers to immigration officers allowing them to detain at ports in England, Wales and Northern Ireland individuals they suspect of having committed a crime, to arrest those they believe to have fraudulently been acquiring asylum support and to access Her Majesty's Revenue Customs (HMRC) data to track down illegal immigrants
* extends powers to enable the prosecution of those who facilitate or traffic from abroad, even if their crimes were committed outside of the UK
* allows automatic consideration for deportation of foreign national prisoners - sending out a clear message that those who abuse the hospitality of the United Kingdom by committing serious crimes will not be tolerated
* establishes a Chief Inspector for the BIA, to oversee the new Agency

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