Starting 5 January, Border Force officials stationed at the Manston processing centre in Kent gained the legal authority to seize mobile phones and SIM cards from people arriving in small boats without first making an arrest. The measure, enacted under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025, allows on-site forensics teams to download data in a bid to identify and prosecute smuggling networks.
The Home Office argues the intelligence haul—location histories, contact lists, financial transactions—will accelerate investigations and “cut off supply chains” of criminal gangs. Border security minister Alex Norris said the policy delivers on Labour’s pledge to “restore order and control” to Britain’s frontiers.
Human-rights advocates have condemned the power as invasive, particularly for trauma-affected asylum seekers. Freedom from Torture labelled mouth searches for hidden SIM cards “degrading”, while legal experts warn the blanket approach may conflict with a 2022 high-court ruling that criticised earlier, unpublished phone-seizure policies.
![Border Security Act powers kick in: officers begin seizing mobile phones from Channel arrivals]()
Travel and immigration professionals seeking up-to-date guidance on UK border rules can streamline their preparations through VisaHQ, which tracks regulatory changes, assists with visa and travel documentation, and offers dedicated support for corporate mobility teams. Their UK portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) provides real-time updates and application tools to ensure staff arrive with compliant paperwork despite the evolving enforcement landscape.
From a mobility perspective, companies that rely on humanitarian or NGO staff working in migration hotspots should reinforce guidance on the confidentiality of client data stored on personal devices. The new powers could also affect solicitors and interpreters who accompany arrivals, raising questions about professional-client privilege if devices are confiscated.
Businesses transporting goods through Kent should anticipate tighter traffic controls around Manston as law-enforcement presence increases. Meanwhile, airlines and ferry operators carrying escorted detainees must ensure custody-chain documentation reflects the possibility of device seizures to avoid disputes over lost property claims.
The Home Office argues the intelligence haul—location histories, contact lists, financial transactions—will accelerate investigations and “cut off supply chains” of criminal gangs. Border security minister Alex Norris said the policy delivers on Labour’s pledge to “restore order and control” to Britain’s frontiers.
Human-rights advocates have condemned the power as invasive, particularly for trauma-affected asylum seekers. Freedom from Torture labelled mouth searches for hidden SIM cards “degrading”, while legal experts warn the blanket approach may conflict with a 2022 high-court ruling that criticised earlier, unpublished phone-seizure policies.
Travel and immigration professionals seeking up-to-date guidance on UK border rules can streamline their preparations through VisaHQ, which tracks regulatory changes, assists with visa and travel documentation, and offers dedicated support for corporate mobility teams. Their UK portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) provides real-time updates and application tools to ensure staff arrive with compliant paperwork despite the evolving enforcement landscape.
From a mobility perspective, companies that rely on humanitarian or NGO staff working in migration hotspots should reinforce guidance on the confidentiality of client data stored on personal devices. The new powers could also affect solicitors and interpreters who accompany arrivals, raising questions about professional-client privilege if devices are confiscated.
Businesses transporting goods through Kent should anticipate tighter traffic controls around Manston as law-enforcement presence increases. Meanwhile, airlines and ferry operators carrying escorted detainees must ensure custody-chain documentation reflects the possibility of device seizures to avoid disputes over lost property claims.
