Section 28LA: Enforcement powers in relation to ships: United Kingdom

Immigration Act 1971 · 1971 c.77

Part 3A: Maritime enforcement

28LA(1)

An immigration officer or an enforcement officer may exercise the powers set out in Part A1 of Schedule 4A ("Part A1 powers") in relation to any of the following in United Kingdom waters, foreign waters or international waters—

(a) a United Kingdom ship;

(b) a ship without nationality;

(c) a foreign ship;

(d) a ship registered under the law of a relevant territory.

28LA(2)

But Part A1 powers may be exercised only—

(a) for the purpose of preventing, detecting, investigating or prosecuting a relevant offence, and

(b) in accordance with the rest of this section.

28LA(3)

The authority of the Secretary of State is required before an immigration officer or an enforcement officer may exercise Part A1 powers in relation to—

(a) a United Kingdom ship in foreign waters,

(b) a ship without nationality,

(c) a foreign ship, or

(d) a ship registered under the law of a relevant territory.

About this text

This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.