e-Borders implementation - Where are we now?

e-Borders is the Government scheme for tighter border control. The idea is that by collecting data on the movement of people across the UK border the authorities will be better able to detect illegal immigrants, terrorists and other criminals. The principal source for this data will be carriers: airlines, ferry and eventually train operators. At first sight it is far from obvious how this scheme can be applied to small boats.

The latest glimpse of Government thinking was given in the House of Lords on 29 April 2009 in answer to a supplementary question by Lord Geddes who asked:

"What happens if I am going on a small boat across the Channel? I am my own carrier in that respect. Is the report correct that said that travellers would be expected to use the internet? In the instance I have just given, what happens if I have no facilities to get on to the internet?"

Lord Brett said:

"My Lords, all forms of international travel will have to be monitored in this way, including small boat travel, but only on international trips. It would be possible to provide that information in advance, either by electronic measures—the internet—or by communicating directly with the UKBA. In some circumstances, despite the fact that one has started on a journey, weather or other conditions may mean that the journey concludes in a different port from the one you set off for, in which case it is a requirement, at the earliest safe opportunity, for the person who has supplied the information to provide information of where they have arrived after travel has been disrupted by weather. The principle remains that all forms of travel require information to be provided, and there are several ways in which owners of small boats can provide it. It is only for international travel, not domestic."

So there is still no detail on how information will need to be reported to the UK Border Agency, but if it includes internet and telephone communication the reporting requirement will be more flexible than the current system of Custom Notice Form C1331. C1331 applies to voyages to and from countries outside the EU and requires a paper form, including passport details of all persons on board, to be handed in or posted to HM Customs. It was only in 1993 that this system ceased to be a requirement for voyages to and from EU countries.

UKBA has been engaged with the RYA and the RYA has explained the constraints of weather and communication under which small boats operate. Apparently UKBA's intention is to run a pilot scheme in 2010 with full implementation in 2014. When the details of the reporting requirements, and the relationship of C1331 and e-Borders, eventually emerge we can only hope there will be adequate consultation with the wider yachting public.