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Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

Question for Home Office

UIN 22779, tabled on 19 April 2024

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people arriving in the UK aboard any floating structure have (a) had their phone confiscated by border force and (b) had their data digitally downloaded since 2022.

Answered on

26 April 2024

The Home Office are unable to provide the requested data. This is on the basis that it is operationally sensitive and not stored in an easily accessible format.

Border Force, Immigration Enforcement and police colleagues use every tool at their disposal to investigate and disrupt the people smuggling networks who facilitate dangerous crossings on such floating vessels and structures, including seizing and examining mobile phones which could assist with criminal investigations.

Answered by

Home Office