LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 5: A general view of The National Crime Agency building on August 5, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Peter Dazeley/Getty Images)
The UK Border Force, police, and National Crime Agency officers are gaining expanded search and seizure powers under the new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act, primarily to target people-smuggling gangs. These powers, which have just received Royal Assent, allow for the search of arriving migrants and their electronic devices without prior arrest.
Details of the New Powers
The new legislation, part of the government’s effort to crack down on organised immigration crime, introduces several key changes:
Body and Mouth Searches:
Officers can now require migrants arriving irregularly in the UK to remove outer clothing (Coats, Jackets, Gloves) and undergo a search of their mouths to check for concealed SIM cards or small electronic devices.
Electronic Device Seizure and Search:
Authorities are empowered to search and seize electronic devices, such as mobile phones and laptops, at the border or during property searches, without needing an arrest first. This allows for the faster collection of intelligence about smuggling networks.
Data Access:
The powers enable law enforcement to access electronic data, including information from online accounts accessed on a device, to gather intelligence on people smugglers and disrupt criminal operations.
Application to Children: The Home Office has confirmed that these search procedures, including oral searches for SIM cards, can also be applied to children arriving via small boats.
New Criminal Offences: The Act creates specific new criminal offences related to organized immigration crime, such as supplying small boat parts (punishable by up to 14 years in prison) and recording information for use in illegal crossings.
These measures aim to enable faster intervention against those suspected of being involved in serious and organised crime and provide stronger tools to dismantle the gangs that facilitate dangerous Channel crossings. The full text and progress of the bill can be tracked on the UK Parliament website.
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