国际英语新闻:New Zealand border control officers take on new search, detention powers

WELLINGTON, Sept.3 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand immigration officers took on a range of new search and detention powers Monday, in a move the government said would protect the integrity of the country's border.

"Compliance officers now have increased powers to search at the border, and the ability to detain people liable for deportation for a limited period of time," Immigration Minister Nathan Guy said in a statement.

"They also have the power to obtain biometric information like fingerprints, and greater access to the records of education providers," he said.

"These changes will allow immigration officers to effectively enforce the Immigration Act and reduce their reliance on other agencies like the police. It gives them similar powers to agencies like New Zealand Customs and Fisheries officers."

The new powers, including methods of safe detention, and risk and conflict management taught by the New Zealand Police, would allow them to act quickly on information they received to deport people who were in the country illegally.

Last year the compliance operations team assisted with 1,410 voluntary departures, served 1,332 deportation liability notices and affected 742 deportations.

However, the Public Service Association (PSA) union said it believed the two weeks training given to 40 immigration officers was inadequate and would lead to safety problems.

The responsibility of search and detention previously belonged to the police who were given years on on-going training and support, PSA national secretary Richard Wagstaff said in a statement.

"Officers who have undergone the training believe that it's inadequate and are actually stressed at the thought of having to use the new powers," said Wagstaff.