Visitors' passports useless (1)
01 January 1991
Visitors' passports useless
artdoc June=1992
The Court of Appeal ruled in April that a British Visitors
Passport (BVP) is not a `passport' which provides proof of
British citizenship. An immigration officer is entitled to refuse
entry to a person carrying a BVP if he is not satisfied that the
holder is a British citizen, and the holder has no right of
appeal in the UK, they said, dismissing an appeal by John Kwesi
Minta Akuamoh.
The decision means that no-one going on holiday using a BVP can
be sure of being allowed back in to Britain. In practice, the
decision is likely to affect black British citizens, who can
expect stringent questioning and possible refusal of entry if
they rely on a BVP to return to Britain after a European holiday.
Guardian 8.4.92.
Statewatch, vol 2, no 3, May-June 1992