Hi everyone,
apparently there is now a new declaration form which people have to fill in before departing the UK-i.e. the one trumpeted by Patel a few weeks ago.
Does anyone know if this is actually now the law, or guidance? And if the law, can they help by identifying the relevant law?
Many thanks!
There is information about the new form on the link below, together with links to docx and pdf versions of the form.
The information page says that turning up at the departure port without the form is a criminal offence, but there is no link to any legislation to make it so. Perhaps, since the rule applies from Monday morning, a statutory instrument will appear on Sunday night. That would be the usual procedure.
The page on the link below also lists recommended evidence for different reasons for travel. I guess that having something from the list would be a wise move. Any police officer instructed to start checking people should be happy to let you go as soon as he or she can tick a box on the list of acceptable evidence.
It is of course a silly charade, but also a scary illustration of the modern policy of psychological manipulation - just put in another little obstacle, raise in people's minds the thought that they might get quizzed at the airport, and that will do to scare them off any attempt to lead a normal life. I am reminded of the little cardboard policemen that Harrods used to place around the shop in order to deter shoplifters.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-declaration-form-for-international-travel
Apparently its law from Monday.
Just looked now and so far legislation hasn't been updated and the form doesn't appear to exist which is normal for the government idiocy these days.
I would guess yet another amendment to the coronavirus act will appear on Monday.
Hopefully with the actual form people need!
Cancel the above, form is here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-declaration-form-for-international-travel
I've had a quick look. The form is here https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/967118/declaration-form-for-international-travel.pdf . The link in Splatt's post simply refers to the existence of a Travel Declaration Form in the usual incompetent and misleading way. If the government wish to inform us of their authoritarian form one might havbe thought they had the basic competence to sho us a copy of it. Trus to form the reaons listed are partial.
Ok the relevant instruments is The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Wearing of Face Coverings in a Relevant Place and Restrictions: All Tiers) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 which normally needs to be read in conjunction with the SI to which it amends. Why the amendmnt is buried in Wearing of face coverings and not the international Travel coronavirus restrictions SI is either an act of sheer couldn't give a damn sloppiness or delibereately burying it in an SI that purports to cover different things. The relevant restrictions are The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (All Tiers) (England) Regulations 2020 It adds
“PART 1A Declaration on leaving the United Kingdom
Requirement for declaration on leaving the United Kingdom
2A.—(1) A person (“P”) who is present at an embarkation point for the purpose of travelling from there directly or indirectly to a destination outside the United Kingdom must have with them a completed travel declaration form.
(2) The travel declaration form referred to in sub-paragraph (1) must—
(a)include the following information—
(i)P’s full name,
(ii)P’s date of birth and nationality,
(iii)P’s passport number, or travel document reference number (as appropriate),
(iv)P’s home address,
(v)P’s destination,
(vi)the reason P is leaving or outside the place where P is living,
(vii)a statement that P certifies that the information P provides is true, and
(viii)the date on which the declaration is completed, and
(b)be in the form published by the Secretary of State(4).
There is a new Schedule which lists those exempt
“SCHEDULE 4A Persons exempt from the requirement to produce a completed travel declaration form on leaving the United Kingdom
it seems that the list on the form may be taken to be the list of reasons on the form plus others one might deem reasonable and argue as necessary with the border force person taksed with dealing with this authoritarian badly drafted crap. If one is denied boarding it is unclear where one might seek redress.
Shameful.
