Coronavirus Act 2020

Power to give direction to suspend relevant port operations

1 (1) The Secretary of State may, subject to sub-paragraph (2), give a direction in writing to an operator of a port requiring the operator to suspend such relevant port operations as the Secretary of State may specify in the direction.

(2) The Secretary of State may give a direction under sub-paragraph (1) only if—

(a) the Secretary of State considers that there is a real and significant risk that, as a direct or indirect result of the incidence or transmission of coronavirus, there are or will be insufficient border force officers to maintain adequate border security, and

(b) the Secretary of State has taken such other measures as are reasonably practicable to mitigate that risk.

(3) A direction under sub-paragraph (1) must specify—

(a) the operator to whom it is given,

(b) the relevant port operations which are to be suspended,

(c) the time at which the direction takes effect,

(d) the period of time for which the direction is to remain in effect (the “suspension period”), and

(e) any arrangements that must be made, or steps that must be taken, by the operator which are reasonably incidental to the direction.