This is edited down from
The Independent today:
The UK’s border force has been labelled an “absolute disgrace” after passengers found they could enter the country without anyone checking that they had completed a contact form required by the government.
Dr Michael Crozier and his wife Lee, both of whom are retired journalists, flew to Girona in Spain on 14 July, returning into Stansted airport on 18 July.
On the outward leg, there were plenty of checks in place, says Dr Crozier. “We filled in the Spanish health control and locator form and obtained the QR Code to show on arrival,” he tells The Independent. “At Girona, the QR code or print-out was scanned and there were six medical staff for our half-full flight FR9802 (the only one arriving that evening), ready to take temperatures and treat passengers accordingly if needed.”
However, it was a different story on the return journey. The pair had completed the online passenger locator form 48 hours before arriving into the UK in line with Foreign Office rules. “You will need to show your completed form when you arrive at the UK border, either by printing a copy, or showing it on your phone,” reads the guidance.
Dr Crozier was therefore surprised to find that not a single airport or government employee asked to see the form. “We and our fellow passengers from three other flights went through passport control with no one asking to see proof we had completed the passenger locator forms, and, of course, no temperature checks or any sign of any medical monitoring staff,” he says.
Stansted airport said temperature and medical checks were currently not required by the government, and said passenger locator form checks were the responsibility of border force officials, not airport staff.
“Passengers should complete the form before arriving at the airport – it can be done 48 hours before flying – and is checked as part of the inspection at the border but there is also an opportunity to complete it at the airport if passengers haven’t already done so,” said a spokesperson for the airport.
The Independent has contacted the Home Office, which is responsible for border force, for comment.