UK Border Force strike: armed forces cannot detain people, emails reveal

Exclusive: those covering for staff have no power to stop suspected criminals if they have valid travel documents

Soldiers and sailors covering for striking Border Force staff at passport control do not have the power to detain people they suspect of criminal activity, leaked documents show.

Emails reveal that people suspected of crimes such as carrying a false passport, drug smuggling, people trafficking and victims of modern slavery cannot be stopped by members of the armed forces if they hold valid travel documents.