PSO 4630 - Inside Time

PSO 4630 Page 41PRISON SERVICE GUIDANCEGENERAL INFORMATIONTravel DocumentsANNEX GAll foreign nationals being removed from the United Kingdom require a travel document. In someinstances the Border and Immigration Agency is able to create its own travel document (known asan EU letter), but in other instances an application must be made to the prisoner‟s Embassy orHigh Commission.Applications can take several months to be approved where there is little or no supportingevidence to establish nationality and identity. It is therefore imperative that the Border andImmigration Agency is provided with any documentation from the prisoner‟s property where it willassist with an application.Whilst it is good practice to obtain the prisoner‟s permission before passing a passport or identitycard on to the Border and Immigration Agency, legislation currently being passed will allow theBorder and Immigration Agency to take any documentation relevant to the case without theprisoner‟s permission. It is also important to remember that the documents do not belong to theprisoner, rather his/her government, and in cases where permission is refused, the documentshould be photocopied for the Border and Immigration Agency and then posted to the Embassy orHigh Commission. The Border and Immigration Agency will then make a request for the documentdirectly from the Consular Section. Arrangements may also be made for a member of the Borderand Immigration Agency to attend the prison and collect the document.The Border and Immigration Agency regularly requires photographs and fingerprints of foreignnationals and Immigration Officers have their own cameras/fingerprint kits for this purpose. TheBorder and Immigration Agency has given an undertaking that photographs will only be taken ofthe prisoner‟s head and shoulders to form part of an application for a travel document or for its ownidentification purposes.Whilst prisons may take photographs on behalf of the Border and Immigration Agency, quantityand quality required varies from nationality to nationality, depending on what is stipulated by theEmbassy/High Commission, and so it may therefore be easier to allow immigration officers to taketheir own photographs. The Border and Immigration Agency understands security issues affectingprisons but establishments are asked to be as flexible as possible in allowing immigration officersto bring cameras to interviews.Where a prisoner fails to co-operate with an immigration officer in having his/her fingerprints taken,prison officers are empowered to take them under Section 141 of the Immigration & Asylum Act1999 using reasonable force, where a request is made in writing to the Governor.Accession Countries and the EEAThe following countries are members of the EU/EEA. This includes those countries who joined on1 st May 2004:1. Belgium2. France3. Germany4. Italy5. LuxembourgIssue No 287 Issue date 11/01/08