(1)The functions of the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs that are exercisable in relation to general customs matters are exercisable by the Secretary of State concurrently with the Commissioners.
(2)For the purposes of this Part, a “general customs matter” is a matter in relation to which the Commissioners, or officers of Revenue and Customs, have functions, other than—
(a)a matter listed in Schedule 1 to the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11),
(b)any tax, duty or levy not mentioned in that Schedule,
(c)a matter in respect of which functions were transferred to the Commissioners from the Paymaster General under the Transfer of Functions (Office of Her Majesty's Paymaster General) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/607),
(d)the subject matter of [F1Directive 2015/849/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20th May 2015 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering or terrorist financing] (as amended from time to time), and
(e)the subject matter of [F2Regulation (EU) 2015/847 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20th May 2015 on information accompanying transfers of funds] (as amended from time to time).
(3)If a function is exercisable by the Commissioners—
(a)in relation to a general customs matter, and
(b)in relation to any other matter,
the function is exercisable by the Secretary of State in relation to the general customs matter only.
(4)So far as is appropriate for the purposes of or in connection with this section, references to the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, or to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, in an enactment, instrument or document to which this section applies are to be construed as including a reference to the Secretary of State.
(5)References in this section (other than in subsection (8))—
(a)to functions of the Commissioners are to functions conferred by an enactment to which this section applies;
(b)to functions of officers of Revenue and Customs are to functions conferred by an enactment to which section 3 (designation of general customs officials) applies.
(6)This section applies to—
(a)an enactment passed or made before the end of the session in which this Act is passed,
[F3(aa)sections 98 and 99 of the Energy Act 2013 (HMRC functions in relation to Office for Nuclear Regulation etc.),] and
(b)an instrument or document issued before the passing of this Act.
(7)This includes—
(a)section 5(2)(b) of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11) (Commissioners' initial functions),
(b)section 9 of that Act (ancillary powers),
(c)section 25A(2) of that Act (certificates of debt),
(d)section 31 of that Act (obstruction), and
(e)section 33 of that Act (power of arrest) other than in its application to an offence under section 30 of that Act (impersonation),
but does not include any other enactment contained in that Act.
(8)In this Part “general customs function” means—
(a)a function that is exercisable—
(i)by the Secretary of State by virtue of this section, or
(ii)by general customs officials by virtue of section 3,
(b)a function that is conferred on general customs officials or the Secretary of State by or by virtue of any of sections 22 to 24 (investigations and detention), or
(c)a function under [F4retained EU law] that is exercisable by the Secretary of State or general customs officials in relation to a matter—
(i)in relation to which functions under [F4retained EU law] are exercisable by the Commissioners or officers of Revenue and Customs, and
(ii)that is not listed in paragraphs (a) to (e) of subsection (2).
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 1(2)(d) substituted (26.6.2017) by The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/692), reg. 1(2), Sch. 7 para. 8(a) (with regs. 8, 15)
F2Words in s. 1(2)(e) substituted (26.6.2017) by The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/692), reg. 1(2), Sch. 7 para. 8(b) (with regs. 8, 15)
F3S. 1(6)(aa) inserted (1.4.2014) by Energy Act 2013 (c. 32), s. 156(1), Sch. 12 para. 101(2); S.I. 2014/251, art. 4
F4Words in s. 1(8)(c) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/745), regs. 1(2), 19(2); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
(1)The Secretary of State may by order—
(a)amend section 1(2) (matters that are general customs matters) so as to add, modify or remove a matter;
(b)amend that section so as to exclude its application in relation to a function of the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs or to modify or remove a reference to a function previously so excluded;
(c)make provision for that section to apply in relation to a function conferred on the Commissioners by an enactment passed or made after the end of the session in which this Act is passed;
(d)modify any enactment (including an enactment passed or made after the passing of this Act) in consequence of provision made under any of paragraphs (a) to (c);
(e)make provision for a function of the Secretary of State or general customs officials to be treated, or not to be treated, as a general customs function.
(2)The power under subsection (1)(a) may not be exercised to add any of the following to section 1(2)—
(a)a matter listed in Schedule 1 to the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11),
(b)value added tax,
(c)a customs revenue matter (as to which, see section 7), or
(d)a matter listed at section 7(2)(e).
(3)The Secretary of State must consult the Treasury before exercising the power under this section.
(1)The Secretary of State by whom general customs functions are exercisable may designate—
(a)an immigration officer, or
(b)any other official in that Secretary of State's department,
as a general customs official.
(2)A general customs official—
(a)has, in relation to a general customs matter, the same functions as an officer of Revenue and Customs would have, and
(b)may exercise the functions conferred on the Secretary of State by section 1 (general customs functions of the Secretary of State).
(3)This does not prevent the exercise of the Secretary of State's functions by any other official of the Secretary of State.
(4)If a function within subsection (2) is exercisable—
(a)in relation to a general customs matter, and
(b)in relation to any other matter,
the function is exercisable by a general customs official in relation to the general customs matter only.
(5)So far as is appropriate for the purposes of or in connection with this section, references to an officer of Revenue and Customs, or to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, in an enactment, instrument or document to which this section applies are to be construed as including a reference to a general customs official.
(6)References in this section to functions of an officer of Revenue and Customs are to functions conferred by an enactment to which this section applies.
(7)This section applies to—
(a)an enactment passed or made, or an instrument or document issued, before this Act is passed, and
(b)subject to express provision to the contrary, an enactment passed or made, or an instrument or document issued, after this Act is passed.
(8)This includes—
(a)section 2(4) of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11) (continuation of anything begun by one officer by another),
(b)section 6 of that Act (officers' initial functions),
(c)section 25(1) and (5) of that Act (conduct of civil proceedings in a magistrates' court or in the sheriff court),
(d)section 25A(1) of that Act (certificates of debt),
(e)section 31 of that Act (obstruction),
(f)section 32 of that Act (assault), and
(g)section 33 of that Act (power of arrest) other than in its application to an offence under section 30 of that Act (impersonation),
but does not otherwise include any enactment contained in that Act.
(9)This section has effect subject to—
(a)any limitation specified in the official's designation under section 4 (supplementary provisions about designation), and
(b)any designation of the official under section 11 (designation of customs revenue officials).
(1)A designation under section 3 is subject to such limitations as may be specified in the designation.
(2)A limitation specified under subsection (1) may, in particular, relate to—
(a)the functions that are exercisable by virtue of the designation, or
(b)the purposes for which those functions are exercisable.
(3)A designation under section 3—
(a)may be permanent or for a specified period,
(b)may (in either case) be withdrawn, and
(c)may be varied.
(4)The power to designate, or to withdraw or vary a designation, is exercised by the Secretary of State giving notice to the official in question.
(5)The Secretary of State may designate an official under section 3 only if the Secretary of State is satisfied that the official—
(a)is capable of effectively carrying out the functions that are exercisable by virtue of the designation,
(b)has received adequate training in respect of the exercise of those functions, and
(c)is otherwise a suitable person to exercise those functions.
A general customs official must comply with the directions of the Secretary of State in the exercise of general customs functions.
(1)The Secretary of State must designate an official in the department of the Secretary of State by whom general customs functions are exercisable as the Director of Border Revenue.
(2)Before making a designation under this section, the Secretary of State must obtain the consent of the Treasury to the designation.
(1)The functions of the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs that are exercisable in relation to customs revenue matters are exercisable by the Director of Border Revenue concurrently with the Commissioners.
(2)For the purposes of this Part, each of the following is a “customs revenue matter”—
F5(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b)anti-dumping duty (within the meaning [F6it has in Union customs legislation]);
(c)countervailing duty (within the meaning [F7it has in Union customs legislation]);
(d)customs duties;
(e)duties of excise other than—
F8(i). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(ii)bingo duty,
(iii)gaming duty,
(iv)general betting duty,
(v)lottery duty,
(vi)pool betting duty, F9...
(vii)remote gaming duty; [F10and
(viii)machine games duty;]
(f)value added tax so far as relating to the export of goods from, or the import of goods into, the United Kingdom.
(3)Subsection (1) does not apply to—
(a)any function of making, by statutory instrument, any regulations, rules or an order;
(b)any function of issuing notices, directions or conditions that relate to value added tax and that apply generally to any person falling within their terms.
(4)If a function is exercisable by the Commissioners—
(a)in relation to a customs revenue matter, and
(b)in relation to any other matter,
the function is exercisable by the Director in relation to the customs revenue matter only.
(5)So far as is appropriate for the purposes of or in connection with this section, references to the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, or to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, in an enactment, instrument or document to which this section applies are to be construed as including a reference to the Director.
(6)References in this section to functions of the Commissioners are to functions conferred by an enactment to which this section applies.
(7)This section applies to—
(a)an enactment passed or made before the end of the session in which this Act is passed,
[F11(aa)sections 98 and 99 of the Energy Act 2013 (HMRC functions in relation to Office for Nuclear Regulation etc.),] F12...
[F13(ab)Part 1 and sections 40A and 40B of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018, and]
(b)an instrument or document issued before the passing of this Act.
(8)This includes—
(a)section 5(1)(b) and (2)(b) of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11) (Commissioners' initial functions),
(b)section 9 of that Act (ancillary powers),
(c)section 24(1), (2), (3)(e) and (4) to (7) of that Act (evidence),
(d)section 25(1), (1A), (5) and (6) of that Act (conduct of civil proceedings),
(e)section 25A(2) of that Act (certificates of debt),
(f)section 26 of that Act (rewards),
(g)section 31 of that Act (obstruction), and
(h)section 33 of that Act (power of arrest) other than in its application to an offence under section 30 of that Act (impersonation),
but does not include any other enactment contained in that Act.
(9)In this Part “customs revenue function” means—
(a)a function that is exercisable—
(i)by the Director by virtue of this section, or
(ii)by customs revenue officials by virtue of section 11,
(b)a function that is conferred on customs revenue officials or the Director by or by virtue of any of sections 22 to 24 (investigations and detention), or
(c)a function under [F14retained EU law, or Union customs legislation,] that is exercisable by the Director or customs revenue officials in relation to a customs revenue matter.
[F15(10)In this section “Union customs legislation” has the meaning it has in Part 1 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018.]
Textual Amendments
F5S. 7(2)(a) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/745), regs. 1(2), 19(3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
F6Words in s. 7(2)(b) substituted (17.12.2020 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by 2018 c. 22, Sch. 7 para. 156(2)(b) (as substituted by Taxation (Post-transition Period) Act 2020 (c. 26), s. 11(1)(e), Sch. 1 para. 10(5)(a) (with Sch. 2 para. 7(7)-(9)); S.I. 2020/1642, reg. 9)
F7Words in s. 7(2)(c) substituted (17.12.2020 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by 2018 c. 22, Sch. 7 para. 156(2)(a) (as substituted by Taxation (Post-transition Period) Act 2020 (c. 26), s. 11(1)(e), Sch. 1 para. 10(5)(a) (with Sch. 2 para. 7(7)-(9)); S.I. 2020/1642, reg. 9)
F8S. 7(2)(e)(i) omitted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 24 para. 66(3) of the amending Act) by virtue of Finance Act 2012 (c. 14), Sch. 24 para. 58 (with Sch. 24 para. 62)
F9Word in s. 7(2)(e)(vi) omitted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 24 para. 66(2) of the amending Act) by virtue of Finance Act 2012 (c. 14), Sch. 24 para. 49(a)
F10S. 7(2)(e)(viii) and word inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 24 para. 66(2) of the amending Act) by Finance Act 2012 (c. 14), Sch. 24 para. 49(b)
F11S. 7(7)(aa) inserted (1.4.2014) by Energy Act 2013 (c. 32), s. 156(1), Sch. 12 para. 101(3); S.I. 2014/251, art. 4
F12Word in s. 7(7)(aa) omitted (13.9.2018 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by virtue of Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 (c. 22), s. 57(1)(a), Sch. 7 para. 156(3)(a) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2020/1449, reg. 3 and 2020 c. 26, Sch. 2 para. 7(7)-(9)); S.I. 2020/1642, reg. 4(a))
F13S. 7(7)(ab) inserted (13.9.2018 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 (c. 22), s. 57(1)(a), Sch. 7 para. 156(3)(b) (as amended by 2020 c. 26, s. 11(1)(e), Sch. 1 para. 10(5)(b)) (with savings and transitional provisions in S.I. 2020/1449, reg. 3 and 2020 c. 26, Sch. 2 para. 7(7)-(9)); S.I. 2020/1642, reg. 4(a))
F14Words in s. 7(9)(c) substituted (17.12.2020 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by 2018 c. 22, Sch. 7 para. 156(4) (as substituted by Taxation (Post-transition Period) Act 2020 (c. 26), s. 11(1)(e), Sch. 1 para. 10(5)(c) (with Sch. 2 para. 7(7)-(9)); S.I. 2020/1642, reg. 9)
F15S. 7(10) inserted by 2018 c. 22, Sch. 7 para. 156(5) (as substituted (17.12.2020 for specified purposes, 31.12.2020 in so far as not already in force) by Taxation (Post-transition Period) Act 2020 (c. 26), s. 11(1)(e), Sch. 1 para. 10(5)(c) (with Sch. 2 para. 7(7)-(9)); S.I. 2020/1642, reg. 9))
The Treasury may by order—
(a)amend section 7(2) (matters that are customs revenue matters) so as to add, modify or remove a matter;
(b)amend section 7(3) (functions to which that section does not apply) so as to add, modify or remove a function;
(c)make provision for that section to apply in relation to a function conferred on the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs by an enactment passed or made after the end of the session in which this Act is passed;
(d)modify any enactment (including an enactment passed or made after the passing of this Act) in consequence of provision made under any of paragraphs (a) to (c).
(1)The Director of Border Revenue may make arrangements to delegate a function of the Director.
(2)The delegation of a function under this section—
(a)does not prevent the exercise of the function by the Director, and
(b)does not prevent the exercise of the function by a customs revenue official (see section 11).
(3)Where the Director delegates a function under this section—
(a)the Director must monitor the exercise of the function by the person to whom it is delegated, and
(b)the person must comply with the directions of the Director in exercising that function.
(1)This section applies to—
(a)the Director of Border Revenue in the exercise of the Director's customs revenue functions, and
(b)a person to whom such functions are delegated under section 9.
(2)A person to whom this section applies must comply with any directions of a general nature given by the Treasury.
(3)A person to whom this section applies must apply—
(a)any concession published by the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs and available generally to any person falling within its terms, and
(b)any interpretation of the law issued by the Commissioners (whether or not published).
(4)A person to whom this section applies must also—
(a)comply with any other guidance issued by the Commissioners (whether or not published), and
(b)take account of any other material published by the Commissioners.
(1)The Director of Border Revenue may designate—
(a)an immigration officer, or
(b)any other official in the department of the Secretary of State by whom general customs functions are exercisable,
as a customs revenue official.
(2)A customs revenue official—
(a)has, in relation to a customs revenue matter, the same functions as an officer of Revenue and Customs would have, and
(b)may exercise the functions conferred on the Director by section 7 (customs revenue functions).
(3)If a function within subsection (2) is exercisable—
(a)in relation to a customs revenue matter, and
(b)in relation to any other matter,
the function is exercisable by a customs revenue official in relation to the customs revenue matter only.
(4)So far as is appropriate for the purposes of or in connection with this section, references to an officer of Revenue and Customs, or to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, in an enactment, instrument or document to which this section applies are to be construed as including a reference to a customs revenue official.
(5)References in this section to functions of an officer of Revenue and Customs are to functions conferred by an enactment to which this section applies.
(6)This section applies to—
(a)an enactment passed or made, or an instrument or document issued, before this Act is passed, and
(b)subject to express provision to the contrary, an enactment passed or made, or an instrument or document issued, after this Act is passed.
(7)This includes—
(a)section 2(4) of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11) (continuation of anything begun by one officer by another),
(b)section 6 of that Act (officers' initial functions),
(c)section 25(1), (1A) and (5) of that Act (conduct of civil proceedings),
(d)section 25A(1) of that Act (certificates of debt),
(e)section 26 of that Act (rewards),
(f)section 31 of that Act (obstruction),
(g)section 32 of that Act (assault), and
(h)section 33 of that Act (power of arrest) other than in its application to an offence under section 30 of that Act (impersonation),
but does not otherwise include any enactment contained in that Act.
(8)This section has effect subject to—
(a)any limitation specified in the official's designation under section 12 (supplementary provisions about designation), and
(b)any designation of the official under section 3 (designation of general customs officials).
(1)A designation under section 11 is subject to such limitations as may be specified in the designation.
(2)A limitation specified under subsection (1) may, in particular, relate to—
(a)the functions that are exercisable by virtue of the designation, or
(b)the purposes for which those functions are exercisable.
(3)A designation under section 11—
(a)may be permanent or for a specified period,
(b)may (in either case) be withdrawn, and
(c)may be varied.
(4)The power to designate, or to withdraw or vary a designation, is exercised by the Director of Border Revenue giving notice to the official in question.
(5)The Director may designate an official under section 11 only if the Director is satisfied that the official—
(a)is capable of effectively carrying out the functions that are exercisable by virtue of the designation,
(b)has received adequate training in respect of the exercise of those functions, and
(c)is otherwise a suitable person to exercise those functions.
A customs revenue official must comply with the directions of the Director of Border Revenue in the exercise of customs revenue functions.
(1)A person to whom this section applies may—
(a)use customs information acquired by that person in connection with a function exercisable by that person for the purpose of any other function exercisable by that person, and
(b)disclose customs information to any other person to whom this section applies for the purpose of a function exercisable by that person.
(2)The persons to whom this section applies are—
(a)a designated customs official,
(b)an immigration officer,
(c)the Secretary of State by whom general customs functions are exercisable,
(d)any other Minister of the Crown in the department of that Secretary of State,
(e)the Director of Border Revenue, and
(f)a person acting on behalf of a person mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (e).
(3)This section is subject to any provision that restricts or prohibits the use or disclosure of information and that is contained in—
(a)this Part,
(b)any other enactment, or
(c)an international or other agreement to which the United Kingdom or Her Majesty's Government is party.
(4)In subsection (3) the reference to an enactment does not include an enactment contained in, or in an instrument made under—
(a)an Act of the Scottish Parliament,
(b)a Measure or Act of the National Assembly for Wales, or
(c)Northern Ireland legislation.
(5)This section is without prejudice to—
(a)the use by a person to whom it applies of information other than customs information;
(b)the disclosure by or to a person to whom it applies of information other than customs information.
(6)In this Part—
“customs function” means a general customs function or a customs revenue function;
“customs information” means information acquired or capable of being acquired as a result of the exercise of a customs function;
“customs revenue information” means information acquired or capable of being acquired as a result of the exercise of a customs revenue function;
“designated customs official” means a general customs official or a customs revenue official.
(7)It is immaterial for the purposes of subsection (6)—
(a)whether the information was acquired or is capable of being acquired by the person by whom it is held or another person;
(b)whether the information was also acquired or is also capable of being acquired in the exercise of any other function.
(1)A person who is or was a relevant official, the Secretary of State by whom general customs functions are exercisable or another Minister of the Crown in that Secretary of State's department may not disclose personal customs information to a person who is not—
(a)a relevant official, or
(b)a Minister of the Crown in that department.
(2)A person who is or was a relevant official may not disclose personal customs revenue information to a Minister of the Crown.
(3)In this Part “relevant official” means—
(a)a designated customs official,
(b)an immigration officer,
(c)the Director of Border Revenue, or
(d)a person acting on behalf of—
(i)the Secretary of State by whom general customs functions are exercisable, or
(ii)a person mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c).
(4)In this Part—
“personal customs information” means customs information relating to a person that—
identifies that person, or
enables that person to be identified (either by itself or in combination with other information);
“personal customs revenue information” means customs revenue information relating to a person that—
identifies that person, or
enables that person to be identified (either by itself or in combination with other information).
(5)A person—
(a)does not breach subsection (1) by disclosing information the person knows was acquired otherwise than as the result of the exercise of a customs function;
(b)does not breach subsection (2) by disclosing information the person knows was acquired otherwise than as the result of the exercise of a customs revenue function.
(6)Subsections (1) and (2) are also subject to—
(a)section 16 (exceptions to the prohibition in this section), and
(b)any enactment (other than an enactment contained in this Part) permitting disclosure, where the disclosure in question does not contravene any restriction imposed by the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs on the disclosure of customs revenue information.
(7)This section does not apply to information supplied by or on behalf of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs [F16or to information supplied by or on behalf of the Crown Prosecution Service under section 40 or 41A of the UK Borders Act 2007].
This is without prejudice to any other restriction on the disclosure of such information.
(8)In subsection (6) the reference to an enactment does not include an enactment contained in, or in an instrument made under—
(a)an Act of the Scottish Parliament,
(b)a Measure or Act of the National Assembly for Wales, or
(c)Northern Ireland legislation.
Textual Amendments
(1)A person does not breach section 15(1) or (2) by making a disclosure—
(a)to which any of subsections (3) to (8) applies, and
(b)which, in the case of a disclosure of customs revenue information, does not contravene any restriction imposed by the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.
(2)Subsection (1)(b) does not apply if the person making the disclosure knows that the information was acquired otherwise than as the result of the exercise of a customs revenue function.
(3)This subsection applies to a disclosure which is made for the purposes of—
(a)a customs function,
(b)a function relating to immigration, asylum or nationality,
(c)a function relating to national security, or
(d)a function relating to the prevention or detection of crime.
(4)This subsection applies to a disclosure which is made to a person exercising public functions (whether or not within the United Kingdom) for the purposes of any of those functions.
(5)This subsection applies to a disclosure which—
(a)is made for the purposes of civil proceedings (whether or not within the United Kingdom) relating to a function within subsection (3),
(b)is made for the purposes of a criminal investigation or criminal proceedings (whether or not within the United Kingdom), or
(c)is made in pursuance of an order of a court.
(6)This subsection applies to a disclosure which is made with the consent of each person to whom the information relates.
(7)This subsection applies to a disclosure which is made in order to comply with an obligation of the United Kingdom, or Her Majesty's Government, under an international or other agreement.
(8)This subsection applies to a disclosure—
(a)to a person specified in regulations made jointly by the Treasury and the Secretary of State, or
(b)of a kind specified in such regulations.
(1)A person to whom information is disclosed in reliance on section 16 or this section may not disclose that information without the consent of a relevant official (which may be general or specific).
(2)A person does not breach subsection (1) by making a disclosure—
(a)to which any of subsections (3) to (8) of section 16 applies, and
(b)which, in the case of a disclosure of customs revenue information, does not contravene any restriction imposed by the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.
(3)Subsection (2)(b) does not apply if the person making the disclosure knows that the information was acquired otherwise than as the result of the exercise of a customs revenue function.
(4)This section is also subject to any other enactment permitting disclosure.
(5)In subsection (4) the reference to an enactment does not include an enactment contained in, or in an instrument made under—
(a)an Act of the Scottish Parliament,
(b)a Measure or Act of the National Assembly for Wales, or
(c)Northern Ireland legislation.
(1)A person commits an offence if the person breaches section 15(1) or (2) or 17(1).
(2)It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that the person reasonably believed—
(a)that the disclosure was lawful, or
(b)that the information had already and lawfully been made available to the public.
(3)A prosecution for an offence under this section—
(a)may be brought in England and Wales only with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions F17...;
(b)may be brought in Northern Ireland only with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.
(4)This section is without prejudice to the pursuit of any remedy or the taking of any action in relation to a breach of section 15(1) or (2) or 17(1) (whether or not this section applies to the breach).
(5)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable—
(a)on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or to a fine, or to both;
(b)on summary conviction—
(i)in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both;
(ii)in Scotland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both;
(iii)in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or to both.
(6)In relation to an offence under this section committed before [F182 May 2022], the reference in subsection (5)(b)(i) to 12 months has effect as if it were a reference to 6 months.
Textual Amendments
F17Words in s. 18(3)(a) omitted (27.3.2014) by virtue of The Public Bodies (Merger of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Director of Revenue and Customs Prosecutions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/834), art. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 67
F18Words in s. 18(6) substituted (28.4.2022) by The Criminal Justice Act 2003 (Commencement No. 33) and Sentencing Act 2020 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2022 (S.I. 2022/500), regs. 1(2), 5(1), Sch. Pt. 1
(1)Nothing in sections 14 to 17 authorises the making of a disclosure which—
(a)contravenes [F19the data protection legislation], or
(b)is prohibited by [F20any of Parts 1 to 7 or Chapter 1 of Part 9 of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016].
(2)Information whose disclosure is prohibited by section 15(1) or (2) or 17(1) is exempt information by virtue of section 44(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (c. 36).
(3)Sections 15(6), 16 and 17(2) and (4) are to be disregarded in determining for the purposes of subsection (2) whether the disclosure of personal customs information is prohibited by section 15(1) or (2) or 17(1).
(4)In section 23 of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11) (freedom of information), after subsection (1) insert—
“(1A)Subsections (2) and (3) of section 18 are to be disregarded in determining for the purposes of subsection (1) of this section whether the disclosure of revenue and customs information relating to a person is prohibited by subsection (1) of that section.”
[F21(5)In this section, “the data protection legislation” has the same meaning as in the Data Protection Act 2018 (see section 3 of that Act).]
Textual Amendments
F19Words in s. 19(1)(a) substituted (25.5.2018) by Data Protection Act 2018 (c. 12), s. 212(1), Sch. 19 para. 157(2) (with ss. 117, 209, 210); S.I. 2018/625, reg. 2(1)(g)
F20Words in s. 19(1)(b) substituted (27.6.2018) by Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (c. 25), s. 272(1), Sch. 10 para. 23 (with Sch. 9 paras. 7, 8, 10); S.I. 2018/652, reg. 12(g)(iii)
F21S. 19(5) inserted (25.5.2018) by Data Protection Act 2018 (c. 12), s. 212(1), Sch. 19 para. 157(3) (with ss. 117, 209, 210); S.I. 2018/625, reg. 2(1)(g)
(1)After section 41 of the UK Borders Act 2007 (c. 30) insert—
(1)HMRC and the RCPO may each supply a person to whom this section applies with information for use for the purpose of the customs functions exercisable by that person.
(2)This section applies to—
(a)a designated customs official,
(b)the Secretary of State by whom general customs functions are exercisable,
(c)the Director of Border Revenue, and
(d)a person acting on behalf of a person mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c).
(3)This section applies to a document or article which comes into the possession of, or is discovered by, HMRC or the RCPO, or a person acting on behalf of HMRC or the RCPO, as it applies to information.
(4)A person to whom this section applies—
(a)may retain for a purpose within subsection (1) a document or article supplied by virtue of subsection (3);
(b)may dispose of a document or article supplied by virtue of subsection (3).
(5)A power conferred by this section on HMRC or the RCPO may be exercised on behalf of HMRC or the RCPO by a person who is authorised (generally or specifically) for the purpose.
(6)In this section and section 41B “customs function” and “general customs function” have the meanings given by Part 1 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009.
(1)A person to whom information is supplied under section 41A may not disclose that information.
(2)But subsection (1) does not apply to a disclosure—
(a)which is made for the purpose of a customs function, where the disclosure does not contravene any restriction imposed by the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs;
(b)which is made for the purposes of civil proceedings (whether or not within the United Kingdom) relating to a customs function;
(c)which is made for the purpose of a criminal investigation or criminal proceedings (whether or not within the United Kingdom);
(d)which is made in pursuance of an order of a court;
(e)which is made with the consent (which may be general or specific) of HMRC or the RCPO, depending on by whom or on whose behalf the information was supplied;
(f)which is made with the consent of each person to whom the information relates.
(3)Subsection (1) is subject to any other enactment permitting disclosure.
(4)The reference in subsection (1) to information supplied under section 41A includes a reference to documents or articles supplied by virtue of subsection (3) of that section.
(5)The reference in that subsection to a person to whom information is supplied includes a reference to a person who is or was acting on behalf of that person.
(6)In subsection (3) “enactment” does not include—
(a)an Act of the Scottish Parliament,
(b)an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly, or
(c)an instrument made under an Act within paragraph (a) or (b).”
(2)In section 42(1) of that Act (wrongful disclosure) after “section 41” insert “ or 41B ”.
(1)In section 36 of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 (c. 13) (duty to share information), in subsection (1), for paragraph (a) substitute—
“(a)designated customs officials,
(aa)immigration officers,
(ab)the Secretary of State in so far as the Secretary of State has general customs functions,
(ac)the Secretary of State in so far as the Secretary of State has functions relating to immigration, asylum or nationality,
(ad)the Director of Border Revenue and any person exercising functions of the Director,”.
(2)In subsection (6)(a) of that section, after “persons” insert “ or descriptions of persons ”.
(3)In subsection (9) of that section, at the appropriate place insert—
““designated customs official” and “general customs function” have the meanings given by Part 1 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009,”.
(1)Subject as follows, the PACE orders—
(a)apply to criminal investigations conducted by designated customs officials and relating to a general customs matter or customs revenue matter as they apply to relevant investigations conducted by officers of Revenue and Customs, and
(b)apply to persons detained by designated customs officials as they apply to persons detained by officers of Revenue and Customs.
(2)Each of the following is a PACE order for the purposes of this section—
F22(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b)the Police and Criminal Evidence (Application to Revenue and Customs) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R. 2007/464).
(3)In the application of the PACE orders by virtue of this section—
(a)subject to the following provisions of this subsection, references in those orders to an officer of Revenue and Customs are to be read as references to a designated customs official;
(b)references in those orders to the Commissioners are to be read as references to—
(i)the Secretary of State in relation to general customs matters, or
(ii)the Director of Border Revenue in relation to customs revenue matters;
(c)references in those orders to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs or to Revenue and Customs are to be read as references to—
(i)the Secretary of State in so far as the Secretary of State has general customs functions,
(ii)the Director of Border Revenue, and
(iii)designated customs officials;
(d)references in those orders to an office of Revenue and Customs are to be read as references to an office of the UK Border Agency;
(e)references in those orders to a designated office of Revenue and Customs are to be read as references to a designated office of the UK Border Agency;
(f)references in those orders to a relevant indictable offence are to be read as references to an indictable offence that relates to a general customs matter or a customs revenue matter;
(g)references in those orders to a relevant investigation are to be read as references to a criminal investigation conducted by a designated customs official that relates to a general customs matter or a customs revenue matter;
(h)references in those orders to a person being in Revenue and Customs detention are to be read as references to a person being in UK Border Agency detention;
(i)references in those orders to an officer of Revenue and Customs of at least the grade of officer are to be read as references to a designated customs official of at least the grade of immigration officer or executive officer;
(j)references in those orders to an officer of Revenue and Customs of at least the grade of higher officer are to be read as references to a designated customs official of at least the grade of chief immigration officer or higher executive officer;
(k)references in those orders to an officer of Revenue and Customs of at least the grade of senior officer are to be read as references to a designated customs official of at least the grade of immigration inspector or senior executive officer;
(l)any other references in those orders to an officer of Revenue and Customs occupying a specified post or grade are to be read as references to the Secretary of State.
(4)For the purposes of this section—
(a)a person is in UK Border Agency detention if—
(i)the person has been taken to an office of the UK Border Agency after being arrested for an offence, or
(ii)the person is arrested at an office of the UK Border Agency after attending voluntarily at the office or accompanying a designated customs official to it,
and is detained there or is detained elsewhere in the charge of a designated customs official, and
(b)“office of the UK Border Agency” means premises wholly or partly occupied by designated customs officials.
(5)This section does not apply to the following provisions of the PACE orders—
F23(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F23(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F23(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
F23(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(e)in article 2(1) of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Application to Revenue and Customs) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007 (S.R. 2007/464), the definitions of “the Commissioners”, “office of Revenue and Customs”, “relevant indictable offence” and “relevant investigation”;
(f)article 2(2) of that order (Revenue and Customs detention);
(g)article 7 of that order (restriction on other powers to apply for production of documents);
(h)article 15 of that order (authorisation).
(6)A person may be transferred—
(a)between UK Border Agency detention and Revenue and Customs detention;
(b)between Revenue and Customs detention and UK Border Agency detention;
(c)between UK Border Agency detention and police detention;
(d)between police detention and UK Border Agency detention.
[F24(6A)Subsection (6) has effect only in relation to Northern Ireland.]
(7)The references to police detention in subsection (6)—
F25(a). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b)in relation to Northern Ireland, are to be construed in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I. 12)).
(8)Expressions used in this section that are defined in a PACE order have the same meaning as in that PACE order.
(9)This section does not affect the generality of sections 1(4), 3(5), 7(5) and 11(4) (construction of statutory etc. references to the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, officers of Revenue and Customs and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs).
Textual Amendments
F22S. 22(2)(a) omitted (25.6.2013) by virtue of The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Application to immigration officers and designated customs officials in England and Wales) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1542), arts. 1, 32(2)
F23S. 22(5)(a)-(d) omitted (25.6.2013) by virtue of The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (Application to immigration officers and designated customs officials in England and Wales) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1542), arts. 1, 32(3)
(1)The Secretary of State may by order provide for any provision of an enactment listed in subsection (2) that relates to investigations of offences conducted by police officers or to persons detained by the police to apply, subject to such modifications as the order may specify, in relation to—
(a)investigations conducted by designated customs officials,
(b)persons detained by designated customs officials,
(c)investigations conducted by immigration officers, or
(d)persons detained by immigration officers.
(2)Those enactments are—
(a)the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60), and
(b)the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 (S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I. 12)).
(3)An order under this section may make, in relation to designated customs officials, immigration officers, the Secretary of State or the Director of Border Revenue, provision similar to that which may be made in relation to officers of Revenue and Customs or the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs under—
(a)section 114 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, or
(b)article 85 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989.
(4)If an order under this section provides that a function may be exercised only by a person acting with the authority of the Secretary of State or the Director of Border Revenue, a certificate of the Secretary of State or (as the case may be) the Director that the person had authority to exercise the function is conclusive evidence of that fact.
(5)An order under this section may amend or repeal section 22 (application of the PACE orders).
(1)After section 26B of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (c. 39) insert—
(1)In the application of this Part of this Act to investigations conducted by designated customs officials—
(a)references to an officer are to a designated customs official;
(b)references to an authorised officer are to a designated customs official acting with the authority (which may be general or specific) of—
(i)the Secretary of State in relation to investigations relating to general customs matters, or
(ii)the Director of Border Revenue in relation to investigations relating to customs revenue matters;
(c)references to the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs are to—
(i)the Secretary of State in relation to investigations relating to general customs matters, or
(ii)the Director of Border Revenue in relation to investigations relating to customs revenue matters;
(d)references to an office of Revenue and Customs are to premises wholly or partly occupied by designated customs officials;
(e)references to a superior officer are to—
(i)an immigration officer not below the grade of Inspector,
(ii)a person of the grade of Senior Executive Officer, or
(iii)a person of a grade equivalent to that within sub-paragraph (i) or (ii).
(2)In this section “customs revenue matter”, “designated customs official” and “general customs matter” have the meanings given by Part 1 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009.”
(2)The amendment made by this section does not affect the generality of sections 1(4), 3(5), 7(5) and 11(4) (construction of statutory etc. references to the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, officers of Revenue and Customs and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs).
In section 147 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (c. 33) (removal centres and detained persons: interpretation), in the definition of “short-term holding facility”—
(a)after “used” insert “ —(a) ”, and
(b)at the end insert “, or
(b)for the detention of—
(i)detained persons for a period of not more than seven days or for such other period as may be prescribed, and
(ii)persons other than detained persons for any period.”
(1)The Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs may make one or more schemes for the transfer of specified property, rights or liabilities or property, rights or liabilities of a specified description between—
(a)the Commissioners or officers of Revenue and Customs, and
(b)the Secretary of State, the Director of Border Revenue or designated customs officials.
(2)A scheme under subsection (1) may, in particular—
(a)create interests or rights, or impose liabilities, in relation to property, rights or liabilities transferred by virtue of the scheme or retained by a transferor;
(b)apportion property, rights or liabilities between a transferor and a transferee.
(3)A scheme under subsection (1) may—
(a)provide for anything done by or in relation to a transferor in connection with anything transferred to have effect as if done by or in relation to a transferee;
(b)permit anything (including any legal proceedings) relating to anything transferred by the scheme which is in the process of being done by or in relation to a transferor when the transfer takes effect to be continued by or in relation to a transferee;
(c)provide for references to a transferor in an agreement (whether written or not), instrument or other document relating to anything transferred by the scheme to be treated as references to a transferee;
(d)include other incidental, supplementary, consequential, transitional or transitory provision or savings.
(4)A scheme under subsection (1) may provide for a transfer of property, rights or liabilities—
(a)whether or not they would otherwise be capable of being transferred,
(b)without any instrument or other formality being required, and
(c)irrespective of any requirement for consent that would otherwise apply.
(5)The Commissioners may make one or more schemes providing for—
(a)any specified thing or anything of a specified description done by or in relation to the Commissioners or an officer of Revenue and Customs in connection with a relevant function to have effect as if done by or in relation to the Secretary of State, the Director or a designated customs official;
(b)any specified thing or anything of a specified description (including any legal proceedings) relating to a relevant function done by or in relation to the Commissioners or an officer of Revenue and Customs to be continued by or in relation to the Secretary of State, the Director or a designated customs official.
(6)A scheme under this section—
(a)comes into force in accordance with its terms;
(b)may be amended or revoked.
(7)In this section—
“relevant function” means a function which before the passing of this Act was exercisable by the Commissioners or officers of Revenue and Customs (whether or not it remains so exercisable) and that—
is conferred by or by virtue of this Part on the Secretary of State, the Director or a designated customs official, or
is a function under [F26retained EU law] that is exercisable by the Secretary of State, the Director or a designated customs official;
“specified” means specified in the scheme.
Textual Amendments
F26Words in s. 26(7) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/745), regs. 1(2), 19(4); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
(1)Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs may make facilities and services available to any person by whom functions relating to immigration, asylum or nationality, or customs functions, are exercisable for the purposes of the exercise of any of those functions.
(2)A person by whom functions relating to immigration, asylum or nationality, or customs functions, are exercisable may make facilities and services available to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs for the purposes of the exercise of a function of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.
(1)In section 48 of the UK Borders Act 2007 (c. 30) (establishment of the Border and Immigration Inspectorate), in subsection (1) for “the Border and Immigration Agency” substitute “ the UK Border Agency ”.
(2)After that subsection insert—
“(1A)The Chief Inspector shall monitor and report on the efficiency and effectiveness of the performance of functions by the following—
(a)designated customs officials, and officials of the Secretary of State exercising customs functions;
(b)immigration officers, and officials of the Secretary of State exercising functions relating to immigration, asylum or nationality;
(c)the Secretary of State in so far as the Secretary of State has general customs functions;
(d)the Secretary of State in so far as the Secretary of State has functions relating to immigration, asylum or nationality;
(e)the Director of Border Revenue and any person exercising functions of the Director.
(1B)The Chief Inspector shall monitor and report on the efficiency and effectiveness of the services provided by a person acting pursuant to arrangements relating to the discharge of a function within subsection (1A).”
(3)In subsection (2) of that section—
(a)omit the words from the beginning to “Agency;”,
(b)in paragraph (a), for “within the Border and Immigration Agency” substitute “ among the persons listed in subsections (1A) and (1B) (the “listed persons”) ”,
(c)in paragraph (b), for “the Border and Immigration Agency” substitute “ the listed persons ”, and
(d)after paragraph (g) insert—
“(ga)practice and procedure in relation to the prevention, detection and investigation of offences,
(gb)practice and procedure in relation to the conduct of criminal proceedings,
(gc)whether customs functions have been appropriately exercised by the Secretary of State and the Director of Border Revenue,”.
(4)After that subsection insert—
“(2A)Unless directed to do so by the Secretary of State, the Chief Inspector shall not monitor and report on the exercise by the listed persons of—
(a)functions at removal centres and short term holding facilities, and under escort arrangements, in so far as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons has functions under section 5A of the Prison Act 1952 in relation to such functions, and
(b)functions at detention facilities, in so far as Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary, the Scottish inspectors or the Northern Ireland inspectors have functions by virtue of section 29 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009 in relation to such functions.”
(5)Omit subsection (3) of that section.
(6)After that subsection insert—
“(3A)In this section “customs function”, “designated customs official” and “general customs function” have the meanings given by Part 1 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009.”
(7)In section 53 of that Act (relationship with other bodies), in subsection (1)—
(a)in paragraph (a), for “the Border and Immigration Agency” substitute “ a person listed in section 48(1A) or (1B) ”, and
(b)in paragraph (b), for “the Agency” substitute “ such a person ”.
(8)In subsection (3) of that section, for “the Agency” insert “ a person listed in section 48(1A) or (1B) ”.
(9)In section 56(2)(a) of that Act (Senior President of Tribunals), for “the Border and Immigration Agency” substitute “ the UK Border Agency ”.
(10)The person holding the office of the Chief Inspector of the Border and Immigration Agency immediately before the day on which this section comes into force is to be treated, on and after that day, as if appointed as the Chief Inspector of the UK Border Agency under section 48(1) of the UK Borders Act 2007 (c. 30).
(1)The Secretary of State may make regulations conferring functions on Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary, the Scottish inspectors or the Northern Ireland inspectors in relation to—
(a)designated customs officials, and officials of the Secretary of State exercising customs functions;
(b)immigration officers, and officials of the Secretary of State exercising functions relating to immigration, asylum or nationality;
(c)the Secretary of State in so far as the Secretary of State has general customs functions;
(d)the Secretary of State in so far as the Secretary of State has functions relating to immigration, asylum or nationality;
(e)the Director of Border Revenue and any person exercising functions of the Director;
(f)persons providing services pursuant to arrangements relating to the discharge of a function of a person mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (e).
(2)Regulations under subsection (1) may—
(a)in relation to Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary, apply (with or without modification) or make provision similar to any provision of sections 54 to 56 of the Police Act 1996 (c. 16) (inspection);
(b)in relation to the Scottish inspectors, apply (with or without modification) or make provision similar to any provision of [F27Chapter 11 of Part 1 of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (Her Majesty’s inspectors of constabulary)];
(c)in relation to the Northern Ireland inspectors, apply (without or without modification) or make provision similar to any provision of section 41 or 42 of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 (c. 32) (inspection).
(3)Regulations under subsection (1)—
(a)may enable a Minister of the Crown to require an inspection to be carried out;
(b)must provide for a report of an inspection to be made and, subject to any exceptions required or permitted by the regulations, published;
(c)must provide for an annual report by Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary;
(d)may make provision for payment to or in respect of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary, the Scottish inspectors or the Northern Ireland inspectors.
(4)An inspection carried out by virtue of this section may not address a matter of a kind which the Comptroller and Auditor General may examine under section 6 of the National Audit Act 1983 (c. 44).
(5)An inspection carried out by virtue of this section must be carried out jointly by Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary and the Scottish inspectors—
(a)if it is carried out wholly in Scotland, or
(b)in a case where it is carried out partly in Scotland, to the extent that it is carried out there.
(6)In this section—
(a)“the Scottish inspectors” means the inspectors of constabulary appointed under [F28section 71(2) of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012];
(b)“the Northern Ireland inspectors” means the inspectors of constabulary appointed under section 41(1) of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998.
Textual Amendments
F27Words in s. 29(2)(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. 61(a)
F28Words in s. 29(6)(a) 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. 61(b)
(1)In section 41 of the Police and Justice Act 2006 (c. 48) (power to confer functions on the Independent Police Complaints Commission in respect of the exercise of immigration functions)—
(a)after subsection (1)(b) insert—
“(c)the provision of services pursuant to arrangements relating to the discharge of a function within paragraph (a) or (b).”, and
(b)after subsection (2) insert—
“(2A)The Secretary of State may make regulations conferring functions on the Independent Police Complaints Commission in relation to—
(a)the exercise by designated customs officials, and officials of the Secretary of State, of customs functions within the meaning of Part 1 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009;
(b)the exercise by the Director of Border Revenue, and any person exercising functions of the Director, of customs revenue functions within the meaning of that Part of that Act;
(c)the provision of services pursuant to arrangements relating to the discharge of a function within paragraph (a) or (b).”
(2)In each of subsections (4) and (7) of that section, after “subsection (1)” insert “ or (2A) ”.
(3)In the title to that section, after “functions” insert “ and customs functions ”.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
F29S. 31 omitted (27.3.2014) by virtue of The Public Bodies (Merger of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Director of Revenue and Customs Prosecutions) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/834), art. 1(1), Sch. 2 para. 68 (with art. 8)
(1)The Director of Border Revenue must pay money received by way of revenue or security for revenue in the exercise of the Director's customs revenue functions to the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.
(2)The Secretary of State must pay money received by way of revenue in the exercise of the Secretary of State's general customs functions to the Commissioners.
(3)A payment under subsection (1) or (2) must be made—
(a)at such times and in such manner as the Treasury directs, and
(b)after deduction of payments in connection with drawback and repayments.
(4)If the Commissioners think that the funds available to the Director or the Secretary of State may be insufficient to make a payment in connection with drawback or a repayment, the Commissioners may—
(a)pay money to the Director or the Secretary of State (as the case may be) to enable the payment or repayment to be made, or
(b)make the payment or repayment on behalf of the Director or the Secretary of State (as the case may be).
(5)Subsection (4) applies whether or not the reason for a deficiency is or may be that an amount has been paid or retained on the basis of an estimate that has proved or may prove to be inaccurate.
(6)A payment by the Commissioners under that subsection is to be treated for the purposes of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 (c. 11) as a disbursement of a kind specified in section 44(3) of that Act.
(7)In this section—
“repayments” includes—
payments in respect of actual or deemed credits relating to any tax, duty or levy, and
payments of interest (or repayment supplement) on—
repayments, or
payments treated as repayments;
“revenue” means—
taxes, duties and levies,
the proceeds of forfeitures made and penalties imposed under the customs and excise Acts (within the meaning of section 1 of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 (c. 2)),
a sum paid, or the proceeds of sale, under paragraph 16 of Schedule 3 to that Act, and
the proceeds of penalties imposed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1889/2005 on controls of cash entering or leaving the [F30European Union] (including penalties imposed under that Regulation as amended from time to time);
“security for revenue” means any sum paid as security for a tax or duty.
Textual Amendments
(1)The Treasury may by order make provision for—
(a)requiring the payment of sums received by the Secretary of State or the Director in the exercise of their functions into the Consolidated Fund;
(b)permitting the deduction of disbursements before such payments are made;
(c)requiring the Secretary of State or the Director to provide accounts of the receipt and disposal of revenue;
(d)permitting the Treasury to make payments to the Secretary of State or the Director out of the Consolidated Fund to enable them to make disbursements.
(2)An order under this section may amend or repeal section 32 (payment of revenue to the Commissioners).
(1)In section 21 of the UK Borders Act 2007 (c. 30) (code of practice relating to children), in subsection (1), for “the Border and Immigration Agency takes” substitute “ the persons listed in subsection (4A) take ”.
(2)In subsection (2) of that section—
(a)for “The Agency” substitute “ Those persons ”,
(b)in paragraph (a), for “its” substitute “ their ”, and
(c)in paragraph (b), for “it makes” substitute “ they make ”.
(3)After subsection (4) of that section insert—
“(4A)The persons are—
(a)designated customs officials, and officials of the Secretary of State exercising customs functions,
(b)immigration officers, and officials of the Secretary of State exercising functions relating to immigration, asylum or nationality,
(c)the Secretary of State in so far as the Secretary of State has general customs functions,
(d)the Secretary of State in so far as the Secretary of State has functions relating to immigration, asylum or nationality, and
(e)the Director of Border Revenue and any person exercising functions of the Director.”
(4)In subsection (5) of that section omit paragraph (a).
(5)After that subsection insert—
“(5A)In this section “customs function”, “designated customs official” and “general customs function” have the meanings given by Part 1 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009.”
(6)This section ceases to have effect on the coming into force of section 55 (duty regarding welfare of children).
(1)The Secretary of State may by order provide for an enactment (or a description of enactments) to apply in relation to—
(a)relevant persons, or
(b)the exercise of functions by relevant persons,
with such modifications as the Secretary of State considers necessary or expedient.
(2)In this section—
(a)“relevant persons” means—
(i)the Secretary of State by whom general customs functions are exercisable,
(ii)the Director of Border Revenue, and
(iii)designated customs officials, immigration officers and officials in the department of that Secretary of State, and
(b)a reference to relevant persons includes a reference to any description of relevant persons.
(3)An order under this section may, in particular, include provision for or in connection with—
(a)extending to relevant persons an exemption or protection afforded by an enactment to any other description of persons;
(b)providing for the disclosure of information to, or the doing of other things in relation to, relevant persons.
(4)The Secretary of State must consult the Commissioners for Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs before making an order under this section that—
(a)makes provision in relation to a general customs matter or a customs revenue matter, or
(b)makes provision in relation to the exercise of a customs function.
(1)The Secretary of State may by order make—
(a)such incidental, supplementary or consequential provision, or
(b)such transitional or transitory provision or savings,
as the Secretary of State considers appropriate for the general purposes, or any particular purpose, of this Part, or in consequence of, or for giving full effect to, any provision made by or under this Part.
(2)An order under subsection (1) may amend, repeal, revoke or otherwise modify any enactment (including this Act).
(3)The power to make an order under subsection (1) includes power to repeal or revoke an enactment which is spent.
(4)Nothing in this Part affects the generality of the power conferred by this section.
(1)Orders and regulations under this Part must be made by statutory instrument.
(2)An order or regulations under this Part may—
(a)include incidental, supplementary and consequential provision;
(b)make transitional or transitory provision or savings;
(c)make different provision for different cases or circumstances.
(3)A statutory instrument containing an order or regulations to which subsection (4) applies may not be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament.
(4)This subsection applies to—
(a)an order under section 2 (power of Secretary of State to modify functions);
(b)an order under section 8 (power of Treasury to modify Director's functions);
(c)regulations under section 16(8) (power to permit disclosure);
(d)an order under section 23 (application of provisions about investigations and detention: England and Wales and Northern Ireland);
(e)an order under section 35 (power to modify enactments);
(f)an order under section 36 (power to make supplementary etc. provision) that amends or repeals primary legislation.
(5)A statutory instrument containing only—
(a)regulations under section 29 (inspections by Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary etc.), or
(b)an order under section 36 that does not amend or repeal primary legislation,
is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(6)A statutory instrument containing an order under section 33 (power to require payment into the Consolidated Fund) is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the House of Commons.
(7)In this section “primary legislation” means—
(a)an Act of Parliament,
(b)an Act of the Scottish Parliament,
(c)a Measure or Act of the National Assembly for Wales, or
(d)Northern Ireland legislation.
F31(8). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Textual Amendments
In this Part—
F32...
“customs function” has the meaning given by section 14(6);
“customs information” has the meaning given by section 14(6);
“customs revenue function” has the meaning given by section 7(9);
“customs revenue information” has the meaning given by section 14(6);
“customs revenue matter” has the meaning given by section 7(2);
“customs revenue official” means a customs revenue official designated under section 11(1);
“designated customs official” has the meaning given by section 14(6);
“enactment” includes—
an enactment contained in subordinate legislation within the meaning of the Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30);
an enactment contained in, or in an instrument made under, an Act of the Scottish Parliament;
an enactment contained in, or in instrument made under, Northern Ireland legislation;
an enactment contained in, or in an instrument made under, a Measure or Act of the National Assembly for Wales;
“function” means any power or duty (including a power or duty that is ancillary to another power or duty);
“general customs function” has the meaning given by section 1(8);
“general customs matter” has the meaning given by section 1(2);
“general customs official” means a general customs official designated under section 3(1);
“personal customs information” has the meaning given by section 15(4);
“personal customs revenue information” has the meaning given by section 15(4);
“relevant official” has the meaning given by section 15(3).
Textual Amendments
F32Words in s. 38 omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Immigration, Nationality and Asylum (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/745), regs. 1(2), 19(5); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)