The Special Immigration Appeals Commission ("SIAC") came into existence on 3rd August 1998. It deals with appeals in the occasional cases in which the Home Secretary personally directs that a person be deported from the United Kingdom on national security grounds or excluded from the United Kingdom on grounds that this would be conducive to the public good.

The notes attached to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission Act 1997 when it was a Bill explained that the Commission is not expected to have a heavy work load. Total additional cost to the public purse is expected to be only about £23,000 in a full year.

As at end October 2003 sixteen foreign nationals have been certified and detained using powers in Part 4 of the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security (ATCS) Act 2001. One further individual who has been certified is detained under other powers (see 2003/10/29 - Home Office Press Release STAT 045/2003, re Special Immigration Appeals Commission.

See also main topic IMMIGRATION generally.