UK Border Agency
Heathrow Harry is quite correct ; if passengers can be processed effectively through border controls at other major airports in the world including his example SIN but also the likes of HKG, DXB and YYZ, then it can be done in this country even with the stringent passport checks that are now necessary with international travel. The problem with the Border Agency ( previously HM Immigration ) at LHR and to a lesser extent LGW and MAN is one of management - or lack thereof. It is not a massively complicted task to schedule resources according to known demand, it is done in thousands of other scenarios within the aviation world. What is needed is the right attitude and ethos, a person at the top who will demand and ensure that people entering this country are processed in an efficient, timely and courteous manner at all airports and at all times. If this does not happen, this country will attract criticism from business and leisure travellers that we are incapable of organising our transport processes to meet the known demands of arriving passeengers - and, if we can't get this right for the Olympics, the negative reputation will stay with us for years.