Are you wondering what the border offences in the UK are and how you can avoid committing them to keep legal trouble at bay? The UK border offences vary in severity. These offences can be committed by the person entering the country illegally or the carriers carrying such people into the UK. They can also be varied and related to immigration.
Let’s explore the UK’s border offences in detail!
Border Offences in the UK
Here are the types of border offences in the UK that the government can charge you with if you’re not careful when entering the country:
Liability of the Carriers
The UK government obligates the transport industry to take certain measures to ensure the passengers they are carrying into the UK are not a threat to the country or are not illegal migrants. If they turn out to be illegally travelling, the country can hold the carrier liable. It’s why they should take certain measures, such as checking the travel documents of their passengers to keep clandestine entrants at bay.
Moreover, to ensure their safety, they must divulge advanced electronic information to the United Kingdom border Force regarding the passengers or crews of their aircraft or shops. The carriers must also ensure the activities they conduct while aboard their vehicle are approved by the government and are not counted as offences.
Immigration-Related Offences
The UK also has several categories of immigration-related border offences that can also be defended or contested with the right legal help. Immigration offences are always dealt with under criminal law, and if you don’t defend yourself against them adequately, you can be deported from the country.
These offences vary from civil penalties, which are monetary penalties the Home Office levies when enforcing the country’s laws and regulations. Immigration offences cover many actions, including entering the UK illegally or using deception or false tactics to enter or remain in the country. They also include assisting an asylum seeker in entering the UK, facilitating unlawful immigration, and assisting entry to the country in breach of an exclusion or deportation order.
An immigration or border offence can also include human trafficking, failure to comply with the conditions or duration of leave, possession of false documents, and failure to supply the needed information when required. If you fail to comply with arrangements for removal or lease your residential property to people without leaves and offer unauthorised immigration advice and services, you can be charged with an immigration offence.
The Power of Border Force Officers
Border Force officers in the UK hold the power of immigration officers. It enables them to enter and search the premises or vehicles of people they suspect. They also have the power to search for and seize potential evidence and your documents, such as travel tickets and passports. They can conduct thorough examinations to ensure their satisfaction.
If you’re dealing with the change of a border offence, make sure to reach out to qualified help. It’s the only way to avoid greater legal trouble.
