Airline Staff Trained to Detect Visa Holders

Training of airline staff to bar people without visas from flights to the UK has a long history, dating back over 30 years. Immigration officers, including Peter Hillman, a former chief immigration officer, have been travelling to destinations worldwide at the invitation of airlines to provide free training on visa requirements and detecting forged passports. This training has been conducted in various countries, including Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Tanzania, Egypt, Iraq, and Thailand. Airlines have requested this training and have provided flights and accommodation for the immigration officers.

Key Takeaways:

• The training of airline staff to detect visa holders has been ongoing for over 30 years, with immigration officers providing free training on visa requirements and detecting forged passports.
• The training has been conducted in numerous countries, including Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Tanzania, Egypt, Iraq, and Thailand.
• Airlines have requested this training and have provided flights and accommodation for the immigration officers.
• Former chief immigration officer Peter Hillman was involved in this training in the 1990s, based at Gatwick.
• The training was free, with no expense to the public purse.
• In one instance, Hillman took a briefcase full of forged passports to show airline staff in Cairo, which was examined but ultimately no further action was taken.

Statistics:

• 30+ years: duration of training of airline staff to detect visa holders.
• 6: number of countries where training has been conducted ( Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Tanzania, Egypt, Iraq, and Thailand).
• 1: number of briefcases of forged passports taken by Hillman in Cairo.

Sources:

• Peter Hillman, Former chief immigration officer
• Photograph: How Hwee Young/EPA