79.This section inserts a new paragraph 27C into Schedule 2 to the 1971 Act. The new paragraph provides an immigration officer not below the rank of chief immigration officer, or an immigration officer authorised by such an officer, with the power to require a carrier to inform a relevant officer of the expected arrival in the United Kingdom of any of his ships or aircraft which the carrier expects to carry a non-EEA national. It is envisaged that this power will normally be used in relation to arrivals at ports where there is no permanent immigration presence to allow resources to be deployed more efficiently.
80.This new power will be capable of being applied by order under the Channel Tunnel Act 1987 to through trains or shuttle trains arriving in the United Kingdom.