Aviation security: consultation on a statutory authority to carry scheme

The consultation, which closed in December 2011, sought views on the introduction of an authority to carry scheme to prevent individuals who pose a terrorist threat from flying to the UK. This included:

• a proposal to introduce an Authority to Carry scheme to prevent individuals who pose a terrorist threat from flying to the UK

• the potential impact of the proposed scheme

• the construction of a scheme that would most effectively prevent individuals who pose a terrorist threat from flying to the UK while minimising any negative impact on industry and the travelling public

Government response

The 12-week consultation directed at the airline industry and other interested parties on proposals to implement such a scheme ended on 6 December 2011.

A total of 18 responses were received including three from representative groups with a total membership of 161 airlines. All were supportive of the purpose of the scheme to identify high risk individuals who pose a terrorist threat and prevent them from boarding an aircraft to the UK. 16 were supportive of the scheme as proposed and two industry respondents expressed reservations about the proposed operation of the scheme and changes to operating processes.

The government response is available to download.

Security and travel bans authority to carry scheme

This scheme is being introduced to prevent certain individuals who would be refused entry or admission at the UK border from travelling to the UK. It applies to the following passengers travelling on flights to the UK:

• third-country nationals

• EEA nationals and accompanying/joining third country national family members of EEA nationals who are the subject of an exclusion or deportation order under the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006 because they pose a threat to public security

• individuals who are the subject of a UN or an EU (AQ list) travel ban

Air passenger carriers will be denied authority to carry these individuals and could be fined up to £10,000 if they bring to the UK someone they didn’t seek authority to carry or were denied authority to carry.

The Draft Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (Authority to Carry) Regulations 2012 and explanatory memorandum were laid in parliament on 30 April 2012.

Related information

• The Security and Travel Bans Authority to Carry Scheme 2012 on the official documents website

• The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 (Authority to Carry) Regulations 2012 on legislation.gov.uk

• Consultation on a statutory Authority to Carry Scheme: consultation document - September 2011

• Pre-consultation impact assessment

• Equality impact assessment of the implementation of an authority to carry scheme

  • Consultation on a statutory authority to carry scheme: the government response - April 2012.

• Draft Security and Travel Bans Authority to Carry Scheme 2012

• Final impact assessment