Andrew Turner, the Island’s MP, has been getting to the bottom of reports that the UK Border Agency, part of the Home Office, is seeking to impose an “e-Border” control system for people travelling from UK islands to the mainland. The Home Office’s Counter-Terrorism strategy ‘CONTEST’, published in March, outlined plans to introduce new police powers to collect advance passenger data on some air and sea journeys.
Reports first surfaced in early March that travellers, including fishermen, sailors and tourists would be forced to electronically register their journeys. This led to national newspaper reports of a passport being needed to visit the Isle of Wight. Talks between the UK Border Agency, Jersey, the Isle of Man and Guernsey have already taken place. Although the Isle of Wight has not been included to date, it has not been categorically ruled out. The moves to enforce “electronic borders” are, allegedly, to combat terrorism and organised crime.
Mr Turner asked the Minister of State for Security, Counter-Terrorism, Crime and Policing, Vernon Coaker MP, how many investigations there had been into terrorist-related and organised crime travel on the Island. The Minister dodged the question, stating that plans to use new information-gathering powers were only planned for routes between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. He went on to say “There are no plans to introduce these powers on other domestic UK routes, such as crossings to the Isle of Wight”.
Mr Turner said:
“I am glad that there are no current plans to rope the Island into this scheme. To the best of my knowledge, the Isle of Wight has never been a hotbed of terrorism or organised crime. This was a silly idea – but you never know when silly ideas are going to turn into government policy so I will be keeping an eye on this.”
