Immigration Act 1971

Examination by immigration officers, and medical examination

2 (1) An immigration officer may examine any persons who have arrived in the United Kingdom by ship or aircraft (including transit passengers, members of the crew and others not seeking to enter the United Kingdom) for the purpose of determining—

(a) whether any of them is or is not patrial; and

(b) whether, if he is not, he may or may not enter the United Kingdom without leave ; and

(c) whether, if he may not, he should be given leave and for what period and on what conditions (if any), or should be refused leave.

(2) Any such person, if he is seeking to enter the United Kingdom, may be examined also by a medical inspector or by any qualified person carrying out a test or examination required by a medical inspector.

(3) A person, on being examined under this paragraph by an immigration officer or medical inspector, may be required in writing by him to submit to further examination; but a requirement under this sub-paragraph shall not prevent a person who arrives as a transit passenger, or as a member of the crew of a ship or aircraft, or for the purpose of joining a ship or aircraft as a member of the crew, from leaving by his intended ship or aircraft.

3 (1) An immigration officer may examine any person who is embarking or seeking to embark in the United Kingdom for the purpose of determining whether he is patrial and, if he is not, for the purpose of establishing his identity.

(2) So long as any Order in Council is in force under section 3(7) of this Act, an immigration officer may examine any person who is embarking or seeking to embark in the United Kingdom for the purpose of determining—

(a) whether any of the provisions of the Order apply to him ; and

(b) whether, if so, any power conferred by the Order should be exercised in relation to him and in what way.