Well I complained. I provided the dialogue verbatim and stressed that my main concern is whether stopping someone with my appearance and passport type is a sensible deployment of their time, when they are constantly complaining of being under-resourced. Finally today (after 75 days) they replied, and only after I threatened to take the issue to my MP if they didn't reply. Here it is...words in bold are my emphasis or addition
They are empowered to ask relevant questions of any passenger in order to establish identity and nationality (that is what a passport does) and whether or not cash or seizable or excisable commodities are being moved illegally into or out of the country. In addition they are also empowered to ask questions under section 7 of the Counter Terrorism Act to establish that a passenger is not involved in carrying out acts of terrorism or in the preparation of acts of terrorism. It is inevitable that during the course of our activities some travellers will find themselves subject to Border Force checks. However, I can assure you we have no wish to intervene in anyone’s journey more than is absolutely necessary to fulfil these important duties. On this occasion the operational manager is satisfied the questions asked were legitimate and commensurate with legislation and the officer was carrying out his duties in line with Border Force departmental policy.
Anyone who has met me, knows my age etc, and knows that on the day i was dressed "semi-formal" will probably join me in wondering how the Border Force will ever catch illegal immigrants when they are managed by idiots (by which i mean the superiors of the officer concerned who trained him and help him plan his daily work).
I'm really inclined to take this up with my MP.
Would a Czech MP give a f...?
Probably more than a UK one?
I'm lucky enough to have Ed Davey as an MP. He definitely gives a f...
Well I complained. I provided the dialogue verbatim and stressed that my main concern is whether stopping someone with my appearance and passport type is a sensible deployment of their time, when they are constantly complaining of being under-resourced. Finally today (after 75 days) they replied, and only after I threatened to take the issue to my MP if they didn't reply. Here it is...words in bold are my emphasis or addition
They are empowered to ask relevant questions of any passenger in order to establish identity and nationality (that is what a passport does) and whether or not cash or seizable or excisable commodities are being moved illegally into or out of the country. In addition they are also empowered to ask questions under section 7 of the Counter Terrorism Act to establish that a passenger is not involved in carrying out acts of terrorism or in the preparation of acts of terrorism. It is inevitable that during the course of our activities some travellers will find themselves subject to Border Force checks. However, I can assure you we have no wish to intervene in anyone’s journey more than is absolutely necessary to fulfil these important duties. On this occasion the operational manager is satisfied the questions asked were legitimate and commensurate with legislation and the officer was carrying out his duties in line with Border Force departmental policy.
Anyone who has met me, knows my age etc, and knows that on the day i was dressed "semi-formal" will probably join me in wondering how the Border Force will ever catch illegal immigrants when they are managed by idiots (by which i mean the superiors of the officer concerned who trained him and help him plan his daily work).
I'm really inclined to take this up with my MP.
Would a Czech MP give a f...?
Probably more than a UK one?
I'm lucky enough to have Ed Davey as an MP. He definitely gives a f...
I've just opened the thread for the first time Prague, I didn't know you were a consultant specialising in Human Resources? You, me and @bobmunro should probably form some sort of HR CL stable;-)
Well I complained. I provided the dialogue verbatim and stressed that my main concern is whether stopping someone with my appearance and passport type is a sensible deployment of their time, when they are constantly complaining of being under-resourced. Finally today (after 75 days) they replied, and only after I threatened to take the issue to my MP if they didn't reply. Here it is...words in bold are my emphasis or addition
They are empowered to ask relevant questions of any passenger in order to establish identity and nationality (that is what a passport does) and whether or not cash or seizable or excisable commodities are being moved illegally into or out of the country. In addition they are also empowered to ask questions under section 7 of the Counter Terrorism Act to establish that a passenger is not involved in carrying out acts of terrorism or in the preparation of acts of terrorism. It is inevitable that during the course of our activities some travellers will find themselves subject to Border Force checks. However, I can assure you we have no wish to intervene in anyone’s journey more than is absolutely necessary to fulfil these important duties. On this occasion the operational manager is satisfied the questions asked were legitimate and commensurate with legislation and the officer was carrying out his duties in line with Border Force departmental policy.
Anyone who has met me, knows my age etc, and knows that on the day i was dressed "semi-formal" will probably join me in wondering how the Border Force will ever catch illegal immigrants when they are managed by idiots (by which i mean the superiors of the officer concerned who trained him and help him plan his daily work).
I'm really inclined to take this up with my MP.
Would a Czech MP give a f...?
Probably more than a UK one?
I'm lucky enough to have Ed Davey as an MP. He definitely gives a f...
I've just opened the thread for the first time Prague, I didn't know you were a consultant specialising in Human Resources? You, me and @bobmunro should probably form some sort of HR CL stable;-)
Well I am, but focusing only on marketing and marcomms people.That is in fact my background. (@WSS is more the real deal in recruitment) And other things for the sector which wouldn't fall under HR. And did this idiot at Ebbsfleet really want to know all that? I'm surprised he didn't say "Aha, so you are a people trafficker?"
Bumping this as I certainly didn't agree with a lot of what Prauge wrote, however last night has changed my opinion quite a lot.
My wife returned to China last night as her UK visa expires very soon, whilst I'm stuck here waiting for the Chinese embassy to mess my visa up several times (hopefully collecting it tomorrow)
She went through security at Heathrow and got on a flight to Sri Lanka, only realising today that at no point did anyone check her passport or stamp her passport to note she has left Engalnd.
This is going to cause us A LOT of problems, as not only do I have to show my wife is back in China in order to obtain my family visa but next time we want to come back to the UK she has to show she didn't overstay her visa. Unless she can persuade someone at Kunming airport to stamp her entry into China (not normally done for Chinese citizens) she will have no way to prove she left when she was supposed to.
Bumping this as I certainly didn't agree with a lot of what Prauge wrote, however last night has changed my opinion quite a lot.
My wife returned to China last night as her UK visa expires very soon, whilst I'm stuck here waiting for the Chinese embassy to mess my visa up several times (hopefully collecting it tomorrow)
She went through security at Heathrow and got on a flight to Sri Lanka, only realising today that at no point did anyone check her passport or stamp her passport to note she has left Engalnd.
This is going to cause us A LOT of problems, as not only do I have to show my wife is back in China in order to obtain my family visa but next time we want to come back to the UK she has to show she didn't overstay her visa. Unless she can persuade someone at Kunming airport to stamp her entry into China (not normally done for Chinese citizens) she will have no way to prove she left when she was supposed to.
Clowns.
They'll be a record of her on the flight manifest. Keep all documents, including invoice, eticket and boarding pass. is she a member of the frequent flyer programme? - That would show her travelling as well.
It's mad in such times we are not monitored or recorded as leaving or exiting the country, how many of these terrorist types can get into usability Europe and not be found out Is just insane
A glorious day at Ebbsfleet. They have installed scanning of passports. No more minute grilling of my journey plan. No more career evaluation! And no taking out of electronics from case, nor stripping down to your underwear. Free wifi for 20 minutes and my train is on time.
Take the Eurostar, now, before we pull out of Europe and board up the tunnel :-)
A glorious day at Ebbsfleet. They have installed scanning of passports. No more minute grilling of my journey plan. No more career evaluation! And no taking out of electronics from case, nor stripping down to your underwear. Free wifi for 20 minutes and my train is on time.
Take the Eurostar, now, before we pull out of Europe and board up the tunnel :-)
Have you seen the changes they've made at Brussels arrivals?
A glorious day at Ebbsfleet. They have installed scanning of passports. No more minute grilling of my journey plan. No more career evaluation! And no taking out of electronics from case, nor stripping down to your underwear. Free wifi for 20 minutes and my train is on time.
Take the Eurostar, now, before we pull out of Europe and board up the tunnel :-)
Have you seen the changes they've made at Brussels arrivals?
I've heard it involves electrodes and a Cocker Spaniel.
A glorious day at Ebbsfleet. They have installed scanning of passports. No more minute grilling of my journey plan. No more career evaluation! And no taking out of electronics from case, nor stripping down to your underwear. Free wifi for 20 minutes and my train is on time.
Take the Eurostar, now, before we pull out of Europe and board up the tunnel :-)
Have you seen the changes they've made at Brussels arrivals?
A glorious day at Ebbsfleet. They have installed scanning of passports. No more minute grilling of my journey plan. No more career evaluation! And no taking out of electronics from case, nor stripping down to your underwear. Free wifi for 20 minutes and my train is on time.
Take the Eurostar, now, before we pull out of Europe and board up the tunnel :-)
Have you seen the changes they've made at Brussels arrivals?
A glorious day at Ebbsfleet. They have installed scanning of passports. No more minute grilling of my journey plan. No more career evaluation! And no taking out of electronics from case, nor stripping down to your underwear. Free wifi for 20 minutes and my train is on time.
Take the Eurostar, now, before we pull out of Europe and board up the tunnel :-)
Have you seen the changes they've made at Brussels arrivals?
Well, whatever they were, I eluded them.
Yeah. That's what they want you to think...
On the ICE to Cologne, some customs guys in plain clothes were checking passports. Never seen that before since Schengen. But once again I eluded them:-)
The train passes through Liege so perhaps they were looking for Anil Koc.
A glorious day at Ebbsfleet. They have installed scanning of passports. No more minute grilling of my journey plan. No more career evaluation! And no taking out of electronics from case, nor stripping down to your underwear. Free wifi for 20 minutes and my train is on time.
Take the Eurostar, now, before we pull out of Europe and board up the tunnel :-)
Have you seen the changes they've made at Brussels arrivals?
Well, whatever they were, I eluded them.
Yeah. That's what they want you to think...
On the ICE to Cologne, some customs guys in plain clothes were checking passports. Never seen that before since Schengen. But once again I eluded them:-)
The train passes through Liege so perhaps they were looking for Anil Koc.
Comments
Just seen a summary of the ITV package @Dansk_Red referred to. I'd be tempted to say "I rest my case", but on the contrary…:-)
My wife returned to China last night as her UK visa expires very soon, whilst I'm stuck here waiting for the Chinese embassy to mess my visa up several times (hopefully collecting it tomorrow)
She went through security at Heathrow and got on a flight to Sri Lanka, only realising today that at no point did anyone check her passport or stamp her passport to note she has left Engalnd.
This is going to cause us A LOT of problems, as not only do I have to show my wife is back in China in order to obtain my family visa but next time we want to come back to the UK she has to show she didn't overstay her visa. Unless she can persuade someone at Kunming airport to stamp her entry into China (not normally done for Chinese citizens) she will have no way to prove she left when she was supposed to.
Clowns.
Take the Eurostar, now, before we pull out of Europe and board up the tunnel :-)
The train passes through Liege so perhaps they were looking for Anil Koc.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/09/german-student-makes-official-request-to-see-test-papers-before-exams