Undercover operations by the media

This page explains the UK Border Agency's position on undercover operations by the media.

We would generally advise journalists against working undercover to report on illegal immigration or smuggling. Undercover investigations can hinder successful law enforcement activity and may put you at personal risk.

Criminals involved in illegal immigration and smuggling may be violent. There have been instances of undercover reporters being seriously assaulted.

While we are willing to work with journalists, we would expect that your reporting would not jeopardise any of our investigations and potentially impair our chances of successful prosecutions.

Our own investigations underpin our enforcement work. We are therefore not always in a position to share information on all our activities against illegal immigration or smuggling. If we suspect that a journalist's activities constitute a criminal offence, we are likely to refer the matter to the police.

Any journalist considering covering immigration crime or smuggling is advised to contact our press office for guidance and advice when reporting on any aspect of our work.