Delays at UK airports ...
Apr 30, 2012, 4:22 am
#47
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Boris Johnson: Heathrow immigration meltdown gives 'terrible impression of UK'
The Telegraph: Boris Johnson: Heathrow immigration meltdown gives 'terrible impression of UK'
I'm not really surprised Boris Johnson has chimed in...
The article includes some text that is similar to my last post on this topic...
I'm not really surprised Boris Johnson has chimed in...
He said the difficulties at Heathrow gave "a terrible impression of the UK" and it was unfortunate that the country's main port of entry was "gaining such a poor reputation".
Mr Johnson told Mrs May he was looking forward to "hearing what measures the Home Office and the UK Border Agency plan to take in order to rectify the situation both for the (Olympic) Games and for usual passenger numbers".
...
Major airlines reacted furiously to an attempt by the Border Force to gag Heathrow over the meltdown faced by the immigration service.
Mr Johnson told Mrs May he was looking forward to "hearing what measures the Home Office and the UK Border Agency plan to take in order to rectify the situation both for the (Olympic) Games and for usual passenger numbers".
...
Major airlines reacted furiously to an attempt by the Border Force to gag Heathrow over the meltdown faced by the immigration service.
Apr 30, 2012, 5:05 am
#48
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There are UK immigration checks at St Pancras, the reason being that passengers can board the Paris-London train at Calais-Frιthun where there is no UKBA employee as the passenger numbers there are negligible. Heaven forfend that any no-EU passenger might slip through the net.
I wasn't referring to immigration (which is done in Paris or Brussels for Eurostar and occasionally at St Pancras although I have no clue how they know who to check). I was referring to the unnecessary customs agents loitering at St Pancras inbound. The UK is a member of the EU which is, first and foremost, a customs union. There is no duty imposed entering the UK from Belgium or France.
Apr 30, 2012, 8:01 am
#49
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That's what I was referring to.
Last edited by Christopher; Apr 30, 2012 at 8:09 am
Apr 30, 2012, 8:03 am
#50
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All Eurostar passengers entering the UK clear UK immigration checks at the station from which they depart (e.g., Gare du Nord or Brussels Midi). There are no immigration checks at St Pancras. There might be customs checks (although I personally have never seen any) but I believe there shouldn't be as all passengers are entering from another EU country and thus, technically, a common customs zone.
Apr 30, 2012, 8:05 am
#51
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I wasn't referring to immigration (which is done in Paris or Brussels for Eurostar and occasionally at St Pancras although I have no clue how they know who to check). I was referring to the unnecessary customs agents loitering at St Pancras inbound. The UK is a member of the EU which is, first and foremost, a customs union. There is no duty imposed entering the UK from Belgium or France.
Or are those folks really loitering immigration agents who pull people out at random? If so, that seems even sillier than checking at that one location.
Or are those folks really loitering immigration agents who pull people out at random? If so, that seems even sillier than checking at that one location.
Apr 30, 2012, 8:08 am
#52
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Apr 30, 2012, 9:14 am
#53
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Could well be. On occasions when I've travelled by Eurostar to London, everyone getting off the train has been asked to show his or her boarding pass (i.e. on arrival): presumably, in that case, they might have been looking for someone specific, or else for "stowaways"?
Apr 30, 2012, 9:27 am
#54
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Could well be. On occasions when I've travelled by Eurostar to London, everyone getting off the train has been asked to show his or her boarding pass (i.e. on arrival): presumably, in that case, they might have been looking for someone specific, or else for "stowaways"?
Apr 30, 2012, 1:34 pm
#56
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I have no problem with having a problem with non-EU passengers slipping through the net.
Yes - this was identified by the BBC Report programme (excellent, by the way) back in December. Apparently UKBA staff in Brussels were threatened with arrest by Belgian police for trying to stop people whom they suspected of trying to illegally enter the UK by only buying a ticket to Lille but staying on. The reporter who made this story was able to enter the UK (unchallenged) this way.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16058860
UKBA pledged tighter controls:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-16092647
But of course, UKBA have promised many things.
Apr 30, 2012, 5:03 pm
#57
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The loophole has been around for a decade.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1799790.stm
They seem to have restricted the Brussels to Lille tickets to 3 trains a day, and it is only those that should have routine immigration checks in London.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1799790.stm
They seem to have restricted the Brussels to Lille tickets to 3 trains a day, and it is only those that should have routine immigration checks in London.
May 1, 2012, 1:35 am
#58
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Bad weather claim for immigration delays triggers ridicule
The Telegraph: Bad weather claim for immigration delays triggers ridicule
The weather???
I've been away for a week and half and know that it's been rainy...did not think it was THAT bad...
The weather???
I've been away for a week and half and know that it's been rainy...did not think it was THAT bad...
Meanwhile Mr Green, who admitted some passengers had been waiting "too long", said that poor weather had led to flights bunching, thus causing a sudden influx of passengers at the same time.
Their explanation triggered ridicule from MPs and the aviation industry. John Spellar, a former Labour transport minister, accused the Government of blaming the wrong sort of rain.
Their explanation triggered ridicule from MPs and the aviation industry. John Spellar, a former Labour transport minister, accused the Government of blaming the wrong sort of rain.
May 1, 2012, 2:32 am
#59
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I'm pleased to report that C4 News led with camera phone footage of people slow-handclapping and singing "why are we waiting"! Sometimes, I am proud of the British public...
Today, you know something is wrong when even the Daily [insert your insult of choice] criticises border controls as Draconian
May 1, 2012, 5:23 am
#60
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No, no, no, that's only for really important things.
I'm pleased to report that C4 News led with camera phone footage of people slow-handclapping and singing "why are we waiting"! Sometimes, I am proud of the British public...
Today, you know something is wrong when even the Daily [insert your insult of choice] criticises border controls as Draconian
I'm pleased to report that C4 News led with camera phone footage of people slow-handclapping and singing "why are we waiting"! Sometimes, I am proud of the British public...
Today, you know something is wrong when even the Daily [insert your insult of choice] criticises border controls as Draconian
