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100% passport checks will mean ferry port gridlock, say coach operators 100% passport checks will mean ferry port gridlock, say coach operators
(about 3 hours later)
Coach passengers leaving Britain could face peak-time queues of up to 1,000 passengers an hour when 100% passport checks are imposed on its ports next week, transport operators have warned.Coach passengers leaving Britain could face peak-time queues of up to 1,000 passengers an hour when 100% passport checks are imposed on its ports next week, transport operators have warned.
Home Office ministers have agreed a phased introduction of the exit checks from Wednesday, which David Cameron promised would be in place by the general election.Home Office ministers have agreed a phased introduction of the exit checks from Wednesday, which David Cameron promised would be in place by the general election.
The decision means that, at least initially, 75% of coachloads of European passengers will be waved through without their passports being checked. It also means that only 20% of cars containing European passengers using Eurotunnel will face verification checks.The decision means that, at least initially, 75% of coachloads of European passengers will be waved through without their passports being checked. It also means that only 20% of cars containing European passengers using Eurotunnel will face verification checks.
The last-minute decision to phase in the exit checks for Eurotunnel and cross-Channel ferry passengers was only taken by the home secretary, Theresa May, in the past few days.The last-minute decision to phase in the exit checks for Eurotunnel and cross-Channel ferry passengers was only taken by the home secretary, Theresa May, in the past few days.
Ministers hope the new exemptions will mean that predictions by the ferry companies of five-mile, peak-time queues building up on roads out of Dover and Folkestone from 8 April will not materialise.Ministers hope the new exemptions will mean that predictions by the ferry companies of five-mile, peak-time queues building up on roads out of Dover and Folkestone from 8 April will not materialise.
Despite these exemptions, John Keefe, Eurotunnel’s director of public affairs, warned there could still be queues of 1,000 passengers an hour building up in Eurotunnel’s newly created four-lane exit checks hall during peak flows. Despite these exemptions, John Keefe, Eurotunnel’s director of public affairs, warned there could still be queues of 1,000 passengers an hour building up in Eurotunnel’s newly created four-lane exit-checks hall during peak flows.
Home Office ministers are trying to reassure the public that the ferry ports will not face gridlock from next Wednesday when the 100% checks are due to come in. They say they have worked with ports and transport operators to “find the most suitable way to deliver exit checks with the least impact on passengers”.Home Office ministers are trying to reassure the public that the ferry ports will not face gridlock from next Wednesday when the 100% checks are due to come in. They say they have worked with ports and transport operators to “find the most suitable way to deliver exit checks with the least impact on passengers”.
The immigration minister, James Brokenshire, justified the move saying: “Exit checks will provide us with vital information that confirms a person’s exit from the UK. The coalition government committed to reintroducing them in 2010 and the Immigration Act 2014 put in place legislation which gave carrier and port staff the power to carry out these checks.” The immigration minister, James Brokenshire, justified the move by saying: “Exit checks will provide us with vital information that confirms a person’s exit from the UK. The coalition government committed to reintroducing them in 2010 and the Immigration Act 2014 put in place legislation which gave carrier and port staff the power to carry out these checks.”
Ferry and transport operators say they are ready to introduce exit checks next week and passengers should turn up as usual for their booked departures.Ferry and transport operators say they are ready to introduce exit checks next week and passengers should turn up as usual for their booked departures.
The Port of Dover authority has said: “We are playing our part, but this issue affects us all and our role is to ensure that together with all partners we keep traffic, Dover and the UK economy moving.”The Port of Dover authority has said: “We are playing our part, but this issue affects us all and our role is to ensure that together with all partners we keep traffic, Dover and the UK economy moving.”
But Keefe told the Guardian that the checks will only be used to check for immigration visa overstayers and can’t be used to check for terror suspects, potential jihadists or foreign criminals leaving the country. But Keefe told the Guardian that the checks will only be used to look for immigration visa overstayers and cannot be used to check for terror suspects, potential jihadis or foreign criminals leaving the country.
Despite ministerial promises to “count everybody in, and everybody out” of the country, the 100% exit checks will not apply to those crossing the “common travel area” between the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Private pilots and sailors in the categories of general aviation and general maritime are also exempt.Despite ministerial promises to “count everybody in, and everybody out” of the country, the 100% exit checks will not apply to those crossing the “common travel area” between the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Private pilots and sailors in the categories of general aviation and general maritime are also exempt.
Keefe said Eurotunnel had spent £2.5m and employed 50 people to carry out the exit checks at its Folkestone terminal. The 10 million car passengers who travel in 2.6m cars a year on the Eurotunnel shuttle are being required to provide their passport details in advance.Keefe said Eurotunnel had spent £2.5m and employed 50 people to carry out the exit checks at its Folkestone terminal. The 10 million car passengers who travel in 2.6m cars a year on the Eurotunnel shuttle are being required to provide their passport details in advance.
Only 20% of cars containing European Economic Area passengers face having their passports scanned, along with all “turn up and go” passengers and 100% of vehicles containing non-EEA passengers.Only 20% of cars containing European Economic Area passengers face having their passports scanned, along with all “turn up and go” passengers and 100% of vehicles containing non-EEA passengers.
But ministers and transport operators faced a bigger headache with the thousands of coach parties who cross the Channel each year. Bookings are through coach operators and not by individual passengers who aren’t required to provide their passenger details in advance. But ministers and transport operators faced a bigger headache with the thousands of coach parties who cross the Channel each year. Bookings are through coach operators and not by individual passengers, who aren’t required to provide their passenger details in advance.
Keefe said Eurotunnel had decided that passengers on scheduled coach services would all be asked to get outand have their passport scanned, as would any “closed” service, such as pub outings, British Legion or special shoppers’ or tourist trips, that contained non-European passengers. This applies equally to coach parties returning to Romania or Bulgaria as well as those leaving from Britain. Keefe said Eurotunnel had decided that passengers on scheduled coach services would all be asked to get out and have their passport scanned, as would any “closed” service – such as pub outings, British Legion or special shoppers’ or tourist trips – that contained non-European passengers. This applies equally to coach parties returning to Romania or Bulgaria as well as those leaving from Britain.
However, only 25% of those containing only EEA passengers would initially be checked from next week, building up to more comprehensive coverage over the coming months. School parties of children under 16 have been exempted completely from next week.However, only 25% of those containing only EEA passengers would initially be checked from next week, building up to more comprehensive coverage over the coming months. School parties of children under 16 have been exempted completely from next week.
The official anxieties over the impact of the imposition of exit checks coincided with the home secretary quietly announcing that the Home Office had agreed a final £150m payment in settlement of its four-year legal dispute with the US defence company, Raytheon Systems, over the failure to deliver its e-borders contract. The official anxieties over the impact of the imposition of exit checks coincided with the home secretary quietly announcing that the Home Office had agreed a final £150m payment in settlement of its four-year legal dispute with the US defence company Raytheon Systems over the failure to deliver its e-borders contract.
The e-borders programme was brought in by Tony Blair in 2003 with a view to introducing 100% exit checks within 10 years. Advanced passenger data is required for 95% of flights leaving Britain but ferry and cross-Channel train services have been exempt until now.The e-borders programme was brought in by Tony Blair in 2003 with a view to introducing 100% exit checks within 10 years. Advanced passenger data is required for 95% of flights leaving Britain but ferry and cross-Channel train services have been exempt until now.