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—
the person has committed an offence under section 24(A1), (B1), (C1), (D1), (E1) , (E1A) or (1)(b), (c) or (f), 24A(1) or 26(1)(c) or (d) of the Immigration Act 1971 (c. 77) (illegal entry, deception, &c.), and
the person is or has been resident in the local authority's area.
A local authority shall comply with a requirement under this section.
In the application of this section to England and Wales "local authority" means—
a county council,
a county borough council,
a district council,
a London borough council,
the Common Council of the City of London, and
the Council of the Isles of Scilly.
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).
In the application of this section to Northern Ireland—
a reference to a local authority shall be taken as a reference to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, and
the reference to a local authority's area shall be taken as a reference to Northern Ireland.