(1)The Secretary of State may require a local authority to supply information for the purpose of establishing where a person is if the Secretary of State reasonably suspects that—
(a)the person has committed an offence under section 24(1)(a), (b), (c), (e) or (f), 24A(1) or 26(1)(c) or (d) of the Immigration Act 1971 (c. 77) (illegal entry, deception, &c.), and
(b)the person is or has been resident in the local authority’s area.
(2)A local authority shall comply with a requirement under this section.
(3)In the application of this section to England and Wales “local authority” means—
(a)a county council,
(b)a county borough council,
(c)a district council,
(d)a London borough council,
(e)the Common Council of the City of London, and
(f)the Council of the Isles of Scilly.
(4)In the application of this section to Scotland “local authority” means a council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 (c. 39).
(5)In the application of this section to Northern Ireland—
(a)a reference to a local authority shall be taken as a reference to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, and
(b)the reference to a local authority’s area shall be taken as a reference to Northern Ireland.