Asked about the system for the forms – designed to track travellers in case they need to be contacted about proximity to Covid cases – a Home Office spokesperson told TTG: “Passengers do not to need to hand a passenger locator form to a Border Force officer on arrival; the form is completed and submitted online.  

“Border Force continues to operate a spot check regime so passengers may be asked to show proof they have completed the form to an officer.

“We are seeing a high level of compliance and we expect this to continue as everyone plays their part to help stop the spread of this disease.”

The Home Office said Border Force would continue to “use the 4Es”, as the police have done – that is to “engage, explain, encourage and finally enforce”.

Border Force are operating a spot check regime to support compliance with the PLF and will balance the needs of this against a range of other factors, including the public health risk of queuing passengers in a confined space, it said. 

It added the vast majority of arriving passengers were complying with all the requirements of the Covid-19 related health regulations at the border.

Passengers who fail to complete the PLF will be liable to be issued with a fixed penalty notice of £100 in England. Border Force officers can issue these at the border.

The information on the form will be used where there is a need to trace individuals who we believe have been exposed to someone with the virus. “It is therefore in everyone’s best interests to fill in the form correctly,” the Home Office said. 

A total of 10 FPNs have now been issued by Border Force.