Immigration Act 1971
Sections and provisions with full text and the judgments that cite each one.
Section 24A — Deception.
Deception. 24A 1 A person who is not a British citizen is guilty of an offence if, by means which include deception by him— a he obtains or seeks to obtain — i leave to enter or remain in the United…
Section 24B — Illegal working
Illegal working 24B 1 A person (“P”) who is subject to immigration control commits an offence if— a P works at a time when P is disqualified from working by reason of P's immigration status, and b at…
Section 25 — Assisting unlawful immigration to member State or the United Kingdom
Assisting unlawful immigration to member State or the United Kingdom 25 1 A person commits an offence if he— a does an act which facilitates the commission of a breach or attempted breach of…
Section 25A — Helping asylum-seeker to enter United Kingdom
Helping asylum-seeker to enter United Kingdom 25A 1 A person commits an offence if— a he knowingly ... facilitates the arrival or attempted arrival in , or the entry or attempted entry into, the…
Section 25BA — Facilitation offences: application to rescuers
Facilitation offences: application to rescuers 25BA 1 A person does not commit a facilitation offence if the act of facilitation was an act done by or on behalf of, or co-ordinated by— a Her…
Section 25B — Assisting entry to United Kingdom in breach of deportation or exclusion order
Assisting entry to United Kingdom in breach of deportation or exclusion order 25B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Section 25BB — Facilitation offences: defences relating to stowaways
Facilitation offences: defences relating to stowaways 25BB 1 In proceedings for a facilitation offence brought against a master of a ship, it is a defence for the master to show— a that the assisted…
Section 25C — Forfeiture of vehicle, ship or aircraft
Forfeiture of vehicle, ship or aircraft 25C 1 This section applies where a person is convicted on indictment of an offence under section 25 or 25A . 2 The court may order the forfeiture of a vehicle…
Section 25D — Detention of ship, aircraft or vehicle
Detention of ship, aircraft or vehicle 25D 1 If a person has been arrested for an offence under section 25 or 25A , a senior officer or a constable may detain a relevant ship, aircraft or vehicle— a…
Section 26 — General offences in connection with administration of Act.
General offences in connection with administration of Act. 26 1 A person shall be guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction with a fine of not more than level 5 on the standard scale or…
Section 26A — Registration card
Registration card 26A 1 In this section “ registration card ” means a document which— a carries information about a person (whether or not wholly or partly electronically), and b is issued by the…
Section 26B — Possession of immigration stamp
Possession of immigration stamp 26B 1 A person commits an offence if he has an immigration stamp in his possession without reasonable excuse. 2 A person commits an offence if he has a replica…
Section 27 — Offences by persons connected with ships or aircraft or with ports.
Offences by persons connected with ships or aircraft or with ports. 27 1 A person shall be guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction with a fine of not more than level 5 on the standard…
Section 28 — Proceedings.
Proceedings. 28 A1 Proceedings for an offence under this Part that is committed in the territorial sea adjacent to the United Kingdom may be taken, and the offence may for all incidental purposes be…
Section 28A — Arrest without warrant.
Arrest without warrant. 28A 1 An immigration officer may arrest without warrant a person— a who has committed or attempted to commit an offence under section 24 or 24A; or b whom he has reasonable…
Section 28AA — Arrest with warrant
Arrest with warrant 28AA 1 This section applies if on an application by an immigration officer a justice of the peace is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that a person has…
Section 28CA — Business premises: entry to arrest
Business premises: entry to arrest 28CA 1 A constable or immigration officer may enter and search any business premises for the purpose of arresting a person— a for an offence under section 24, b for…
Section 28FA — Search for personnel records: warrant unnecessary
Search for personnel records: warrant unnecessary 28FA 1 This section applies where— a a person has been arrested for an offence under section 24 , 24A(1) or 24B(1) , b a person has been arrested…
Section 28LA — Enforcement powers in relation to ships: United Kingdom
Enforcement powers in relation to ships: United Kingdom 28LA 1 An immigration officer or an enforcement officer may exercise the powers set out in Part A1 of Schedule 4A (“Part A1 powers”) in…
Section 28PA — Power to seize and dispose of ships etc.
Power to seize and dispose of ships etc. 28PA 1 This section applies if— a an immigration officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that a ship has been used in the commission of a relevant offence,…
Section 28B — Search and arrest by warrant.
Search and arrest by warrant. 28B 1 Subsection (2) applies if a justice of the peace is, by written information on oath, satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that a person (“…
Section 28FB — Search for personnel records: with warrant
Search for personnel records: with warrant 28FB 1 This section applies where on an application made by an immigration officer in respect of business premises mentioned in subsection (1A) a justice of…
Section 28C — Search and arrest without warrant.
Search and arrest without warrant. 28C 1 An immigration officer may enter and search any premises for the purpose of arresting a person for an offence under section 25 or 25A . 2 The power may be…
Section 28D — Entry and search of premises.
Entry and search of premises. 28D 1 If, on an application made by an immigration officer, a justice of the peace is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that— a a relevant…
Section 28E — Entry and search of premises following arrest.
Entry and search of premises following arrest. 28E 1 This section applies if a person is arrested for an offence under this Part at a place other than a police station. 2 An immigration officer may…
Section 28F — Entry and search of premises following arrest under section 25, 25A, or 25B .
Entry and search of premises following arrest under section 25, 25A, or 25B . 28F 1 An immigration officer may enter and search any premises occupied or controlled by a person arrested for an offence…
Section 28G — Searching arrested persons.
Searching arrested persons. 28G 1 This section applies if a person is arrested for an offence under this Part at a place other than a police station. 2 An immigration officer may search the arrested…
Section 28H — Searching persons in police custody.
Searching persons in police custody. 28H 1 This section applies if a person— a has been arrested for an offence under this Part; and b is in custody at a police station or in police detention at a…
Section 28I — Seized material: access and copying.
Seized material: access and copying. 28I 1 If a person showing himself— a to be the occupier of the premises on which seized material was seized, or b to have had custody or control of the material…
Section 28ZI — Retention of seized material
Retention of seized material 28ZI 1 This section applies to anything seized by an immigration officer under this Part for the purposes of the investigation of an offence or on the basis that it may…
Section 28J — Search warrants: safeguards.
Search warrants: safeguards. 28J 1 The entry or search of premises under a warrant is unlawful unless it complies with this section and section 28K. 2 If an immigration officer applies for a warrant,…
Section 28K — Execution of warrants.
Execution of warrants. 28K 1 A warrant may be executed by any immigration officer. 2 A warrant may authorise persons to accompany the officer executing it. 2A A person so authorised has the same…
Section 28L — Interpretation of Part III.
Interpretation of Part III. 28L 1 Subject to subsection (1A) in this Part, “premises” and “items subject to legal privilege” have the same meaning— a in relation to England and Wales, as in the…
Section 28M — Enforcement powers in relation to ships: England and Wales
Enforcement powers in relation to ships: England and Wales 28M 1 An English and Welsh constable may exercise the powers set out in Part 1 of Schedule 4A (“Part 1 powers”) in relation to any of the…
Section 28N — Enforcement powers in relation to ships: Scotland
Enforcement powers in relation to ships: Scotland 28N 1 A Scottish constable may exercise the powers set out in Part 2 of Schedule 4A (“Part 2 powers”) in relation to any of the following in Scotland…
Section 28O — Enforcement powers in relation to ships: Northern Ireland
Enforcement powers in relation to ships: Northern Ireland 28O 1 A Northern Ireland constable may exercise the powers set out in Part 3 of Schedule 4A (“Part 3 powers”) in relation to any of the…
Section 28P — Hot pursuit of ships in United Kingdom waters
Hot pursuit of ships in United Kingdom waters 28P 1 An English and Welsh constable may exercise Part 1 powers in relation to a ship in Scotland waters or in Northern Ireland waters if— a the ship is…
Section 28Q — Interpretation of Part 3A
Interpretation of Part 3A 28Q 1 In this Part— “ the Convention ” means the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (Cmnd 8941) and any modifications of that Convention agreed after the…
Section 29 — Contributions for expenses of persons returning abroad.
Contributions for expenses of persons returning abroad. 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Section 30 — Return of mental patients.
Return of mental patients. 30 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Section 31 — Expenses.
Expenses. 31 There shall be defrayed out of moneys provided by Parliament any expenses incurred by the Lord Chancellor under Schedule 5 to this Act or by a Secretary of State under or by virtue of…
Section 31A — Procedural requirements as to applications.
Procedural requirements as to applications. 31A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Section 32 — General provisions as to Orders in Council, etc.
General provisions as to Orders in Council, etc. 32 1 Any power conferred by Part I of this Act to make an Order in Council or order (other than a deportation order) or to give any directions…
Section 33 — Interpretation.
Interpretation. 33 1 For purposes of this Act, except in so far as the context otherwise requires— “ aircraft ” includes hovercraft, “ airport ” includes hoverport and “ port ” includes airport; “…
Section 34 — Repeal, transitional and temporary.
Repeal, transitional and temporary. 34 1 Subject to the following provisions of this section, the enactments mentioned in Schedule 6 to this Act are hereby repealed, as from the coming into force of…
Section 35 — Commencement, and interim provisions.
Commencement, and interim provisions. 35 1 Except as otherwise provided by this Act, Parts I to III of this Act shall come into force on such day as the Secretary of State may appoint by order made…
Section 36 — Power to extend to Islands.
Power to extend to Islands. 36 Her Majesty may by Order in Council direct that any of the provisions of this Act shall extend, with such exceptions, adaptations and modifications, if any, as may be…
Section 37 — Short title and extent.
Short title and extent. 37 1 This Act may be cited as the Immigration Act 1971. 2 It is hereby declared that this Act extends to Northern Ireland, and (without prejudice to any provision of Schedule…