UK's border controls move to Belgium

Friday, 1 October 2004 12:00 AM

From October, UK immigration officers will be able to check the travel documents of all those seeking passage on the Eurostar in Belgium, rather than in Waterloo, in an attempt to prevent illegal immigration.

The agreement with Belgium follows on from a similar deal with France, and means that all Eurostar immigration checks will now take place on the continent rather than Waterloo.

Eventually, most immigration officers will all move from Waterloo, as the agreement beds down.

UK immigration controls also operate in France at Calais, Dunkerque, Boulogne, Paris Gare du Nord, Lille and Calais Frethun.

Home Office Minister Des Browne said: "The agreement we have reached today is a significant step forward and our partnership with Belgium and France has been vital to this.

"Our strategy of moving more border controls abroad is already paying dividends. At French Eurostar stations, introducing UK document checks has cut asylum applications at Waterloo by more than 90 per cent.

"Today's agreement with Belgium will enable us to move our controls from London Waterloo to Brussels, stopping would-be illegal immigrants before they set off for the UK."

Today, the Government also brought into force residual powers from immigration legislation, which will allow the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner to take action against unqualified people seeking to give immigration advice - including seizing all related material.

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