Ministers To Seize Phones From Small-Boat Arrivals

From Monday, people who reach UK shores in small boats and are taken to the Manston processing centre in Kent could have their mobile phones and SIM cards taken and their devices downloaded — without being arrested first. The plan has drawn sharp criticism from legal and human-rights campaigners who warn it risks treating refugees as suspects by default. Under the new rules, officers will be able to ask arrivals to remove an outer coat, jacket or gloves to check for hidden devices. They will also be authorised to search inside a person’s mouth for a concealed SIM or tiny electronics. Technology to extract data will be in place at Manston, ministers have said, though officials have so far not clarified whether children would be subject to this practice. Supporters argue the measure will provide intelligence on smuggling networks and help bring alleged people‑traffickers to justice. The powers flow from the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act, which became law in December, and ministers say they are a key plank of a wider drive to crack down on unauthorised crossings. But campaigners and lawyers warn the approach risks serious rights infringements. An associate director at a torture-survivor charity described forcing traumatised men, women and children into invasive searches immediately after dangerous Channel crossings as profoundly inhumane, and cautioned that blanket application of the powers could treat all arrivals as security threats regardless of individual circumstances. A solicitor representing dozens of asylum seekers said the government has not identified any independent oversight to ensure searches meet the legal standards set by a 2022 high court ruling on phone seizures. He warned that without clear safeguards and authorisation, there is a real danger of repeating failings previously found by the courts. The policy arrives amid political pressure to show tougher action on migration. The prime minister has said hotel closures for asylum accommodation will start to be visible in the coming months, and ministers say they are moving quickly to disrupt criminal gangs. Opinion polling showing Reform UK well ahead of Labour has been cited as part of the backdrop to tougher measures. Numbers make the stakes plain: 41,472 people crossed the Channel to reach the UK in 2025, the second-highest annual total on record. As the government balances enforcement with legal obligations to vulnerable people, critics say the immediate seizure and searching of phones risks eroding privacy and protections for those who have already endured perilous journeys. --- Managing your business finances? TaxAce provides smart online accountancy services for UK businesses with flexible monthly plans. Image and reporting: https://www.theguardian.com | Read original article