Guidance

Immigration Enforcement: digital device extraction policy

Sets out the powers and obligations related to the seizure and interrogation of digital media under the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA).

From:
UK Visas and Immigration and Immigration Enforcement
Published
8 July 2021
Last updated
28 September 2022 — See all updates

Documents

Immigration Enforcement criminal and financial investigations: digital devices - seizure and retention, and data extraction policy

PDF, 415 KB, 21 pages

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Details

This guidance explains powers and obligations under the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and how these interact with the Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act 1996 (CPIA), statutory powers of seizure and case law.

It is aimed at:

  • criminal investigators in Immigration Enforcement Criminal and Financial Investigators (CFI)
  • Immigration Investigators within Immigration Compliance and Enforcement (ICE)
  • Immigration Intelligence (II)
  • suitably trained and accredited criminal investigators within the Home Office and others lawfully charged with seizure and interrogation of digital media

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Published 8 July 2021
Last updated 28 September 2022 + show all updates

  1. Updated policy for criminal and financial officers relating to seizure, retention and data extraction from digital devices. Document title has also changed from 'Immigration Enforcement: digital device extraction policy' to 'Immigration Enforcement criminal and financial investigations: digital devices - seizure and retention, and data extraction policy'.

  2. First published.