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| Coach passengers returning to UK face waits of more than six hours | Coach passengers returning to UK face waits of more than six hours |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| The Home Office has warned of delays at Dover and other ports including Calais | The Home Office has warned of delays at Dover and other ports including Calais |
| Coach passengers returning to the UK are facing waits of more than six hours at the border in Calais. | Coach passengers returning to the UK are facing waits of more than six hours at the border in Calais. |
| Ferry operator P&O has advised passengers to use the toilet before arriving and to come prepared with refreshments. | Ferry operator P&O has advised passengers to use the toilet before arriving and to come prepared with refreshments. |
| Border Force staff in Calais, Dunkirk, Dover and the Coquelles Channel Tunnel terminal are on a four-day strike over pay. | Border Force staff in Calais, Dunkirk, Dover and the Coquelles Channel Tunnel terminal are on a four-day strike over pay. |
| The Home Office said it was working to minimise delays. | The Home Office said it was working to minimise delays. |
| The BBC understands the delays at the border have been made worse by the high volume of coaches bringing pupils home from half-term trips. | The BBC understands the delays at the border have been made worse by the high volume of coaches bringing pupils home from half-term trips. |
| Half-term border queues warning due to strikes | Half-term border queues warning due to strikes |
| Teachers and students from Surrey returning from a ski trip in Austria waited for six and a half hours to board a ferry back to the UK. | Teachers and students from Surrey returning from a ski trip in Austria waited for six and a half hours to board a ferry back to the UK. |
| A Twitter account for the school ski trip tweeted that the journey was "what can only be described as a nightmare of UK passport control". | A Twitter account for the school ski trip tweeted that the journey was "what can only be described as a nightmare of UK passport control". |
| Queues began forming on Saturday morning and P&O Ferries issued an update to passengers, asking them to plan for a wait by bringing snacks, drinks and entertainment. | Queues began forming on Saturday morning and P&O Ferries issued an update to passengers, asking them to plan for a wait by bringing snacks, drinks and entertainment. |
| Members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) are on the second day of a four-day walkout. | Members of the Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) are on the second day of a four-day walkout. |
| The union said on Friday that they believed inexperienced staff were being brought in to cover for striking Border Force workers. | The union said on Friday that they believed inexperienced staff were being brought in to cover for striking Border Force workers. |
| PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "Ministers say their priority is security - it obviously isn't. | PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "Ministers say their priority is security - it obviously isn't. |
| "They say they have no money to give our hard-working members a fair pay rise, but then find money to pay non-striking workers a healthy bonus, to pay for their transport across the country and to pay for four nights' hotel accommodation. | "They say they have no money to give our hard-working members a fair pay rise, but then find money to pay non-striking workers a healthy bonus, to pay for their transport across the country and to pay for four nights' hotel accommodation. |
| "If ministers were serious about security, they would resolve this dispute immediately by putting money on the table to ensure fully-trained, experienced professionals are guarding our borders." | "If ministers were serious about security, they would resolve this dispute immediately by putting money on the table to ensure fully-trained, experienced professionals are guarding our borders." |
| Been sat here 4 hours already… still about another 6-8 hours of queues ahead. Don’t think I’m gonna make it to Sunderland in time for kick off😂😂 #COYR https://t.co/bCO2oKzrxJ pic.twitter.com/EaY7l23d6S | |
| P&O Ferries told customers that long wait times were "due to the queues at border control who are also on strike". | |
| But the Home Office rejected claims strikes were having an impact on wait times. | |
| A spokesperson said: "The queues at the Port of Calais today are not due to industrial action. Border Force operations there remain fluid with all booths open and no significant wait times. | |
| "Border Force and port operators are working hard to ensure all travellers have a safe and secure journey, however we have been clear those entering the UK should expect disruption during strike action. | "Border Force and port operators are working hard to ensure all travellers have a safe and secure journey, however we have been clear those entering the UK should expect disruption during strike action. |
| "We continue to work closely with port operators at a local and national level to minimise delays. | "We continue to work closely with port operators at a local and national level to minimise delays. |
| "Those travelling into the UK today should keep up-to-date with the latest advice from operators to check how the strike action will affect their journey". | "Those travelling into the UK today should keep up-to-date with the latest advice from operators to check how the strike action will affect their journey". |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Home Office | Home Office |
| Ferries | Ferries |
| Strike action | Strike action |