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We at N2D are constantly researching the regs, policies and guidance that Border Force use when stopping cross-border shoppers. When we say N2D, we include many of our readers who also contribute … without them, this would be a poorer N2D.
Indeed, it was one of these contributors who found that the Border Force Operational Manual contained a paragraph that specifically stated that ‘Passengers HAVE THE RIGHT to record any interviews’ should they be stopped by Border Force.
One can’t stress enough how important this is because Border Force will not audio record any Excise interviews … period! They rely on just the BF Officers notebook and content … which is often paraphrased and truncated and does not give a true account of the interview. Yet they want passengers to sign this notebook as a ‘true and factual account of the interview’ … something no solicitor would ever advise their clients to do.
So more and more people were using this right to record. This has not gone down well with Border Force and they often try to stop the interview being recorded. However, producing these FOI’s ( here and here) soon puts a stop to such requests (demands in some cases).
That’s all well and good … but only for visitors to N2D! Why? … because Border Force are now restricting this information for anybody who does not know of N2D and our files and therefore put in an FOI of their own.
This is what they are not allowing the general public at large to see :-
Note: Officers cannot stop someone if they choose to make a video or audio recording of the
interview themselves using their own equipment such as a mobile phone, video camera etc.
which was later amended to :-
“Note: If a member of the public chooses to use their own recording
equipment, such as a mobile phone or video camera, to make an audio or
video record of the interview, officers cannot prevent them from doing so.
However, officers should try to dissuade individuals from making the record by
explaining that a full and accurate record of the interview will be made and
they will have the opportunity to read, agree or have comments added at the
end of the record.
If an individual persists in making a recording, officers are not obliged to make
any special amendments to their usual business processes or to the location
of the interview in order to accommodate a recording. Similarly, officers are
not obliged to have their image recorded and can politely ask that the use of
recording equipment is directed away from them.”
Border Force are wrongly using Sect 31 of the FOI Act 2000 below in order to keep it from the public :-
NOTE
When the FOI 24547 was put in requesting if there had been any updates to the procedures etc that Border Force use in interviews etc, it specifically referred the previous FOI’s that we have and contain ALL the info they have now restricted!
Errr … so what they’ve done is drawn attention to now restricted info that we already know what it is!!!****@@!** Talk about shooting yourself in the foot!
Since when did public rights become sensitive material? lol
Should be interesting 🙂 Come and give your support!
Actually there’s 2 cases tomorrow. George is in court in Scotland accused of Racial Breach of the Peace by the UKBA officer who seized his goods.
Best of luck George!
You can see why we say that all complaints at Border Force Complaints Team are handled by the ‘coffee machine’. Note the ‘Accredited to the Customer Service Excellence standard’ … hahaha. Guess who gave them this accreditation … none other than G4S! (Yes, that G4S that made such a cockup of security at the Olympics). Wonder if BF Complaints Team returned the favour for G4S?
Nothing 2 Declare 