Written question asked by Greg Knight (Conservative) on Wednesday, 17 March 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 19 April 2004. It was answered by Lord Browne of Ladyton (Labour) on Monday, 19 April 2004 on behalf of the Home Office.

Home Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures are in place to prevent the entry of illegal immigrants through the port of Immingham. - (Holding answer 23 March 2004).

Answer: Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are in place to prevent the entry of illegal immigrants through the port of Immingham. [162825] Mr. Browne :[holding answer 23 March 2004]: The United Kingdom Immigration Service is working in close co-operation with both Her Majesty's Customs and Excise and Humberside Police to combat illegal immigration through Immingham docks. The Immigration Service's Mobile Freight Search Team (MFST) is regularly deployed at Immingham when intelligence analysis suggests that this is necessary. Such operations are undertaken by a team of four or five immigration officers from the MFST who are specialists in freight search techniques and who are assisted by one or more Humberside officers who have local intelligence and operational knowledge. MFST and Humberside immigration staff continue to work closely with Immingham carriers to improve checking systems in Belgium and Holland and so reduce the risk of the port being targeted by potential illegal immigrants. The programme to install freight screening and detection equipment overseas provides for deployment at feeder ports serving UK Channel and North Sea ports including Immingham.

Secondary information