UK Border Force stopping departing passengers at Luton
Apr 9, 2017, 6:58 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Cambridge, UK
Posts: 261
UK Border Force stopping departing passengers at Luton
I was at Luton Airport last Sunday on a domestic flight.
After passing through the security checkpoint, there are a number of "Police Control" desks. These are usually unmanned at all UK airports. Unusually, there were two Border Force officers stopping random passengers.
Whilst questioning passengers, both officers appeared to be spending a long time looking through a mobile phone - not sure whether this was the passenger's phone or some other device. The stop appeared to go on for a while (i.e. longer than just to check a passport).
I observed all of this whilst at the water fountain after security, so didn't hear any of the conversation.
Has anyone seen this going on before in the UK? I know Border Force can randomly stop people (for up to 9 hours) under Schedule 7.
After passing through the security checkpoint, there are a number of "Police Control" desks. These are usually unmanned at all UK airports. Unusually, there were two Border Force officers stopping random passengers.
Whilst questioning passengers, both officers appeared to be spending a long time looking through a mobile phone - not sure whether this was the passenger's phone or some other device. The stop appeared to go on for a while (i.e. longer than just to check a passport).
I observed all of this whilst at the water fountain after security, so didn't hear any of the conversation.
Has anyone seen this going on before in the UK? I know Border Force can randomly stop people (for up to 9 hours) under Schedule 7.
Apr 10, 2017, 3:05 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2007
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Has happened to me at Heathrow while going through as an outbound pax. UKBA has desks they can man just before security and they were doing outbound checks, questions, passports, etc. Rare, for me, overall but not uncommon either. I've had it thrice in 3 years with at least one flight a quarter out of LHR. I have seen it handful of other times while at the airport also.
Apr 10, 2017, 7:22 pm
#3
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Has happened to me at Heathrow while going through as an outbound pax. UKBA has desks they can man just before security and they were doing outbound checks, questions, passports, etc. Rare, for me, overall but not uncommon either. I've had it thrice in 3 years with at least one flight a quarter out of LHR. I have seen it handful of other times while at the airport also.
Apr 12, 2017, 12:54 pm
#7
Join Date: Mar 2017
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Apr 14, 2017, 4:25 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: YUL
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You're assuming it wasn't a UKBF device just like the one which was used to scan my passport upon my departure on the Eurostar at St. Pancras in December. Passport reader attached to a handheld device. If it's anything like the devices I'm familiar with it can be used to query databases and peruse passage and travel history.
Apr 16, 2017, 2:42 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2012
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You're assuming it wasn't a UKBF device just like the one which was used to scan my passport upon my departure on the Eurostar at St. Pancras in December. Passport reader attached to a handheld device. If it's anything like the devices I'm familiar with it can be used to query databases and peruse passage and travel history.
I think the Eurostar devices just scan and record the MRZ. Those are private Eurostar employees so have no business querying government databases, but you may be right, UKBF staff may possess mobile passport scanners that link to their computers.