Immigration Act 1971

1 (1) Immigration officers for the purposes of this Act shall be appointed by the Secretary of State, and he may arrange with the Commissioners of Customs and Excise for the employment of officers of customs and excise as immigration officers under this Act. U.K.

(2) Medical inspectors for the purposes of this Act may be appointed by the Secretary of State or, in Northern Ireland, by the Minister of Health and Social Services or other appropriate Minister of the Government of Northern Ireland in pursuance of arrangements made between that Minister and the Secretary of State, and shall be fully qualified medical practitioners.

[F1 (2A) The Secretary of State may direct that his function of appointing medical inspectors under sub-paragraph (2) is also to be exercisable by such persons specified in the direction who exercise functions relating to health in England or Wales.]

(3) In the exercise of their functions under this Act immigration officers shall act in accordance with such instructions (not inconsistent with the immigration rules) as may be given them by the Secretary of State, and medical inspectors shall act in accordance with such instructions as may be given them by the Secretary of State or, in Northern Ireland, as may be given in pursuance of the arrangements mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) above by the Minister making appointments of medical inspectors in Northern Ireland.

(4) An immigration officer or medical inspector may board any ship [F2 or aircraft] for the purpose of exercising his functions under this Act.

(5) An immigration officer, for the purpose of satisfying himself whether there are persons he may wish to examine under paragraph 2 below, may search any ship [F2 or aircraft] and anything on board it, or any vehicle [F3 or container] taken off a ship or aircraft on which it has been brought to the United Kingdom.

[F4 (6) For the purposes of searching a container under sub-paragraph (5), an immigration officer may direct any person who has control of the container to deliver the container to a place specified by the immigration officer.

(7) In this paragraph, “container” has the same meaning as in the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (see section 1(1) of that Act).]

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 2 para. 1(2A) inserted (23.9.2004) by Health Protection Agency Act 2004 (c. 17), ss. 11(1), 12(3), Sch. 3 para. 3

F2 Words in Sch. 2 para. 1(4)(5) substituted (2.8.1993) by S.I. 1993/1813, arts. 8, 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(a)

F3 Words in Sch. 2 para. 1(5) inserted (28.6.2022) by Nationality and Borders Act 2022 (c. 36), ss. 44(2), 87(5)(f)

F4 Sch. 2 para. 1(6)(7) inserted (28.6.2022) by Nationality and Borders Act 2022 (c. 36), ss. 44(3), 87(5)(f)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Reference to Minister of Health and Social Services in para. 1(2) to be construed as reference to head of Department of Health and Social Services and reference to other appropriate Minister of the Government of Northern Ireland to be construed as reference to the head of a Northern Ireland Department: Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 (c. 36), s. 7

Sch. 2 para. 1(2): transfer of certain functions (S.)(1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1750, arts. 1, 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 7); S.I. 1998/3178, art. 3

C2 Sch. 2 para. 1(3): transfer of certain functions (S.)(1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/1750, arts. 1, 2, Sch. 1 (with art. 7); S.I. 1998/3178, art. 3