FOI release

16518 Common travel area non EEA nationals travelling from Eire

We have received a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the following:  1.  In the years 2009 and 2010 the number of non EEA…

From:
Home Office
Published
21 November 2010

Details

We have received a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the following: 

1.  In the years 2009 and 2010 the number of non EEA nationals that you have stopped coming from the Eire

2.  The number that you have taken cash from

3.  The amount in each case, amount returned if any

4.  The amount of forfeiture cash applications made

5.  The outcome
 
6.  The barrister(s) used and the legal cost
 
7.  The criminal conduct in each case permitting you to take the cash
 
8.  Whether you informed Eire about these cases

9.  Did they provide evidence to you

  1. Did you disclose that it was a ‘proceeds of crime’ case

  2. Did any official from Eire attend Court

  3. Did you return any of the recovered funds to Eire

  4. Did they ever request this

We released the following information on 21 November 2010:
 

1.

  • In 2009, there were 206 recorded refusals of entry to the UK for non-EEA nationals travelling to the UK from Irish ports.
  • In 2010 (up until 30th October 2010) there were 287 recorded refusals of entry to the UK for non-EEA nationals travelling to the UK from Irish ports.

2 & 3.
(a) There were 31 cases in 2009 where Cash was detected (includes seizures and detentions) at the Border where the goods had originated in the Irish Republic and these cases had a total Sterling value of £2.81 million. However, only 5 of these cases were recorded as seizures, therefore the figure is:

  • 5 seizures with a total value of £99,445 in the period 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2009.
  • Of the 5 seizures made, the nationality of individuals involved was either not known or not recorded in 2 cases, and of the remaining 3 seizures none involved a non-EEA national.

(b) NB: data for 2010 are only available up to 31st March 2010 due to the switch to a new inventory in which the country of origin is not a mandatory field.

There were eight cases in 2010 (to 31st March 2010) where cash was detected (includes seizures and detentions) at the border where the goods had originated in the Irish Republic and these cases had a total sterling value of £384,614. However, only 3 of these cases were recorded as seizures, therefore the figure is:
 
4 & 5.

  • 3 seizures with a total value of £313,214 in the period 1st January 2010 to 31st March 2010
  • Of the 3 seizures made, 1 involved a non-EEA national and had a total value of £26,714.

  1. The barrister used by UKBA was John Law. The total costs were £23,407.15.

  2. The individual concerned had no permission to be in the state after 2004 and was working without a work permit.

8 -13. UKBA sought assistance for the Garda National Immigration Bureau and they were aware that the information was to be used in a civil cash forfeiture (Proceeds of Crime Act) matter. UKBA obtained two letters and a witness statement from a police officer. No officials from Eire attended the case other than the Irish barrister. UKBA did not return any funds and this was not requested by them.

Published 21 November 2010