What to Do If You are Being Stopped at the Airport?

We as citizens should know our rights and especially as passengers for any flights around the world, we should know our rights too. What would you do if you were suddenly stopped at the airport checking counter by an immigration officer ? What if the customs / security officer were to search you or anything you have with you if he or she suspects that you are carrying an item that is liable or which is prohibited or restricted ?

Here are some of the things that you will find useful to know :

• You should only be detained for the length of time that it takes to complete the search, which is usually under 10 minutes.
• A custom officer does not have to be certain that you are carrying anything unlawful in order to justify a search on you, but he or she must have some concrete basis for the suspicion which relates specifically to you.
• The customs officer is legally obliged to tell you what offense you are suspected of committing. You should ask why you are suspected, even though the customs officer have the right not to tell you.
• If you are asked to submit to a rub-down search, you must be told that you have the right to see a senior customs officer if you do not agree with the search.
• In the event that you are being submitted to a strip-search, you must be told that you have the right to be taken before either a senior officer or a magistrate who will then decide if the strip-search should be carried out.
• All strip-search can only be done or carried-out by a person of the same sex as the person who is being searched.
• In a strip-search, you need not be completely naked at any time and a blanket is suppose to be provided or other suitable coverings should be provided.
• If it comes to arrest, a customs officer may arrest you if he or she has reasonable grounds to suspect you are committing or have committed an offense. If you are under arrest, you may be detained for up to 24 hours. If it is a serious offense, the detain may be extended u to a maximum of 96 hours only.
• You have the rights to inform someone of your arrest during the detention and to consult a solicitor in private.