Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill: call for evidence

Aims of the Bill

The bill primarily relates to law enforcement. It would expand the powers and capabilities of the police and other agencies, in relation to both immigration offences specifically and serious crime more generally.

These changes include new criminal offences of supplying or handling almost any item to be used in connection with illegal immigration, and of collecting information to be used for arranging an unauthorised journey to the UK. These ‘precursor’ offences are inspired by sections 57 and 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

There would also be a new offence of endangering another person during an illegal crossing in the English Channel. The government says it wants to discourage dangerous behaviour, like refusing assistance when a person aboard is hurt, but migrants’ rights groups have criticised the new offence for criminalising migrants rather than people smugglers.

Immigration officers and police would get new powers to seize unauthorised migrants’ mobile phones or other electronic devices if they suspect they contain information about organised immigration crime. They would also get easier access to HMRC customs data to help build up intelligence.

The Border Security Commander would coordinate the overall response.

The bill would make the post of Border Security Commander a statutory role. It does not articulate detailed functions for the role but does assign it certain duties. These include to “have regard” to the coordination of cross-government activity on border security and to set strategic priorities after consulting with a board made up of partner agencies.

Follow the progress of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill

The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 30 January 2025. Second reading, when MPs debate the purpose of the bill, was held on 10 February 2025.

• Bills before Parliament: Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill
• Read Explanatory Notes: Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill
• House of Commons Library Briefing Paper

Oral evidence sessions are expected to be held on Thursday 27 February.

Guidance on submitting written evidence

Deadline for written evidence submissions

The Public Bill Committee is now able to receive written evidence. The sooner you send in your submission, the more time the Committee will have to take it into consideration.

Amendments tabled to the Bill, and information regarding the order in which amendments will be taken in Committee, will be available in due course on the Bill’s publications page (under ‘Amendment paper’ and ‘Selection of amendments’). Once the Committee has dealt with an amendment it will not revisit it.

The Public Bill Committee on the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill will meet for the first time on Thursday 27 February 2025 and will report by 5pm on Thursday 20 March. When the Committee concludes its consideration of the Bill it is no longer able to receive written evidence and it can conclude earlier than the deadline of 5pm on Thursday 20 March 2025. You are strongly advised to submit your written evidence as soon as possible.

Your submission should be emailed to scrutiny@parliament.uk

Further guidance on submitting written evidence can be found here (pdf, 1MB).

Image: Parliamentary Copyright