Legislation
The Terrorism Act 2000 came into force on 19th February 2001. It replaced all previous legislation concerning terrorism.
This new law impacts upon general aviation and the responsibilities of pilots/owners.
The requirement to seek authority to fly to and from the Common Travel Area (Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland and Eire) from non-designated airfields remains. However the notification period has been reduced from 24 hours to a minimum 12 hours.
It is an offence under the Act to fail to comply with this requirement.
We recommend as a matter of best practice that if you are flying from a non-designated airport to any destination outside mainland U.K. that you submit a flight notification to the West Midlands Police Ports Unit.
Officers from the unit will make visits to airfields in an effort to meet owners, pilots and operators. If you need advice, further information, or have any suggestions then please let us know. We hope to establish a more effective working relationship with the general aviation fraternity of the West Midlands.
Police Control Notice
Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 provides that:
An examining officer may question a person whom he believes is entering or leaving Great Britain, or Northern Ireland, or is travelling by air within Great Britain, for the purpose of determining whether that person is or has been concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.
He may for the same purpose question a person on a ship or aircraft which has arrived at any place in Great Britain or Northern Ireland (whether from within or outside Great Britain or Northern Ireland)
(para 2)
Any person who is questioned under this power must:
• Give the examining officer any information in his possession which the officer requests,
• Give the officer on request either a valid passport which includes a photograph or another document which establishes his identity,
• Disclose whether he has with him any documents of a kind specified by the examining officer,
• give the examining officer on request, any document which he has with him which is specified by the officer (para 5)
A person commits an offence if he:
• Wilfully fails to comply with a duty imposed under or by virtue of this Schedule,
• Wilfully contravenes a prohibition imposed under or by virtue of this Schedule, or
• Wilfully obstructs, or seeks to frustrate, a search or examination under or by virtue of this Schedule
(para 18)
Customs & Excise / Terrorism Act
Designated Airports
| Aberdeen Belfast/Aldergrove Belfast City Biggin Hill Birmingham Blackpool Bournemouth Bristol Cambridge Cardiff Carlisle*1 Coventry East Midlands Edinburgh Exeter Farnborough*2 Filton Glasgow Humberside Isle of Man/Ronaldsway | Leeds Bradford Liverpool London (City, Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, Stanstead) Londonderry Lydd Manchester Manston Newcastle Newquay/St Mawgan Norwich Plymouth Prestwick Sheffield Shoreham Southampton Southend Staverton/Gloucester Sumburgh Teeside |
*1 Carlisle not Customs designated
*2 Farnborough not designated under the Terrorism Act
Detailed Legislation Information
In spring 2001 the Government introduced a new Prevention of Terrorism Act but in essence the police powers will remain the same.
These powers essentially provide for the control of travel both into and out of Great Britain. There will be occasions when the only method of obtaining any relevant details, even to determine whether or not a flight is travelling into or out of Great Britain, is to speak to the pilot.
The Prevention of Terrorism Act refers to examining officers for the purpose of the Act the following shall be examining officers:
- Constables
- Immigration Officers
- Customs and Excise Officers – as Immigration Officers by authority of Secretary of State
