To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there is a code of conduct that officers at international airports in the United Kingdom are required to follow.
Baroness Neville-Jones: The UK Border Agency sets a high standard of personal honesty and integrity, requiring border force officers to be mindful of their personal conduct, both within and outside their official role, and they are expected to avoid any action which may bring their conduct into question. All border force officers are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code and Home Office values, and the border force is committed to achieving the customer service excellence accreditation by the end of 2012.
Border force officers who are performing customs duties are required to have regard to the provisions of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 Code A when exercising any powers to search persons and vehicles.There are misconduct procedures in place which are designed to ensure that the standards of conduct laid down for border force officers are adhered to. The UK Border Agency is committed to ensuring that these procedures are based on the principles of natural justice and are applied fairly and equally to everyone.