Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

20 Supply of information to Secretary of State. U.K.

(1) This section applies to information held by—

(a) a chief officer of police;

[F1 (b) the Serious Organised Crime Agency;]

F2 (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(e) a person with whom the Secretary of State has made a contract or other arrangements under section 95 or 98 or a sub-contractor of such a person; or

(f) any specified person, for purposes specified in relation to that person.

[F3 (1A) This section also applies to a document or article which—

(a) comes into the possession of a person listed in subsection (1) or someone acting on his behalf, or

(b) is discovered by a person listed in subsection (1) or someone acting on his behalf.]

(2) The information [F4 , document or article] may be supplied to the Secretary of State for use for immigration purposes.

[F5 (2A) The Secretary of State may—

(a) retain for immigration purposes a document or article supplied to him under subsection (2), and

(b) dispose of a document or article supplied to him under subsection (2) in such manner as he thinks appropriate (and the reference to use in subsection (2) includes a reference to disposal).]

(3) “Immigration purposes” means any of the following—

(a) the administration of immigration control under the Immigration Acts;

(b) the prevention, detection, investigation or prosecution of criminal offences under those Acts;

(c) the imposition of penalties or charges under Part II;

(d) the provision of support for asylum-seekers and their dependants under Part VI;

(e) such other purposes as may be specified.

(4) “Chief officer of police” means—

(a) the chief officer of police for a police area in England and Wales;

[F6 (b) the chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland;]

(c) the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

(5) “Specified” means specified in an order made by the Secretary of State.

(6) This section does not limit the circumstances in which information [F7 , documents or articles] may be supplied apart from this section.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 20(1)(b) substituted for s. 20(1)(b)(c) (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), s. 178(8), Sch. 4 para. 123; S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. para. 10

F2 S. 20(1)(d) repealed (31.1.2008) by UK Borders Act 2007 (c. 30), ss. 40(6)(a), 59(2), Sch.; S.I. 2008/99, art. 2(m)(n)

F3 S. 20(1A) inserted (10.2.2003) by Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c. 41), ss. 132(2), 162(1) (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.

F4 Words in s. 20(2) inserted (10.2.2003) by Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c. 41), ss. 132(3), 162(1) (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.

F5 S. 20(2A) inserted (10.2.2003) by Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c. 41), ss. 132(4), 162(1) (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.

F6 S. 20(4)(b) substituted (1.4.2013) by The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/602), art. 1(2), Sch. 2 para. 31

F7 Words in s. 20(6) inserted (10.2.2003) by Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c. 41), ss. 132(5), 162(1) (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 20 modified (10.2.2003) by Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (c. 41), ss. 131, 162(1) (with s. 159); S.I. 2003/1, art. 2, Sch.

C2 S. 20 restricted (7.4.2005) by Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11), s. 53(1), Sch. 2 para. 17 (with s. 22); S.I. 2005/1126, art. 2(1)