Story perspectives

UK Border Force to Seize Migrants' Phones for Smuggler Crackdown

1/5/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Starting Monday, UK Border Force and immigration officers can seize migrants' phones and SIM cards without arrest to target people-smugglers.
Phones will be taken on arrival at Manston processing centre in Kent, where data can be downloaded for intelligence.
Officers can require migrants to remove outer clothing and search for hidden SIM cards.
The measures aim to expedite investigations under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act, enacted in December.

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Story summary

Starting Monday, UK Border Force and immigration officers can seize migrants' phones and SIM cards without arrest to target people-smugglers.
Phones will be taken on arrival at Manston processing centre in Kent, where data can be downloaded for intelligence.
Officers can require migrants to remove outer clothing and search for hidden SIM cards.
The measures aim to expedite investigations under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act, enacted in December.