UK Border Agency
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Europe
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@ Tableview: Only half 
...I think it works fine for most of Europe (though I admit there are a few 'illegals', like everywhere). I personally don't have the impression that crime and terrorism has increased because of the borders being opened, but I could be wrong.
In the old days if I wanted some money from my bank I had to queue to ask somebody (when it was open!)...nowadays it relies upon more modern techniques and technologies, giving convenient 24 hour access...couldn't the Border Agency do the equivalent?
...I think it works fine for most of Europe (though I admit there are a few 'illegals', like everywhere). I personally don't have the impression that crime and terrorism has increased because of the borders being opened, but I could be wrong.In the old days if I wanted some money from my bank I had to queue to ask somebody (when it was open!)...nowadays it relies upon more modern techniques and technologies, giving convenient 24 hour access...couldn't the Border Agency do the equivalent?
I absolutely appreciate that Schengen is nearly a big a red rag to the proverbial bull as the Euro to the UK populus, but you have to ask why, if a particularly nationalistic, and xenophobic nation like Switzerland can sign up to Schengen, why it's so difficult for the UK to embrace the the concept of the free movement of people within the EU / EEA.
So far as checking arrivals from EU is concerned, surely the border agency knows which passengers are arriving at the UK border on return tickets. For them a very quick scan of the passport should be all that is necessary, but seemingly thats just too easy.
That clearly doesn't solve the problem for long suffering european business and leisure passengers but if less time is taken checking returning passengers, that should ease the burden on everyone, at least in the EEA pasports line.
So far as checking arrivals from EU is concerned, surely the border agency knows which passengers are arriving at the UK border on return tickets. For them a very quick scan of the passport should be all that is necessary, but seemingly thats just too easy.
That clearly doesn't solve the problem for long suffering european business and leisure passengers but if less time is taken checking returning passengers, that should ease the burden on everyone, at least in the EEA pasports line.
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Cape Town / UK / Europe
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surely the border agency knows which passengers are arriving at the UK border on return tickets.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
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ATNotts it's very simple that the UK is a magnet for illegal immigrants from everywhere as it's easier to disappear into an existing multi cutural community than other less diverse parts of Europe. This explains the hordes at Sangatte who are "asylum seekers" but have no wish to stay in France, a perfectly stable war free nation. They all want to come here and in Schengen, all need to do is cross the weakest land border and they're in! We've got quite enough of the third world and millions more would come, passing through all France and Germany could offer to come here and disappear into a community of their own. Think Lutfur Rahman as my Local mayor and see why I don't want any more of the excesses of those nations imported.
Skipness is quite right.
But there's another factor. Britain is an island nation, not a continental one. Our 'borders' (N. Ireland excepted) are at least 20 miles wide, and many of us like it that way. It's one reason why our propensity to fly is so much greater than that of our continental neighbours.
But there's another factor. Britain is an island nation, not a continental one. Our 'borders' (N. Ireland excepted) are at least 20 miles wide, and many of us like it that way. It's one reason why our propensity to fly is so much greater than that of our continental neighbours.
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I've done only two trips across the Atlantic in 2011.
Believe me, irritating though it was to see all the empty desks at Heathrow on arrival, and the queue for Europeans only slightly quicker than all the other poor souls waiting more than an hour,
Arriving in the USA can be far far worse! Dulles Washington, for one. A three hour wait in steaming hot conditions, old people drooping with fatigue, babies screaming, Ellis Island had to be a resort in comparison! And that was with my American passport! To top it all off, there was another queue once you had your baggage, and for all those hundreds of limp arrivals, One and only One agent to ask if you had any items of foodstuffs not permitted! and she was taking her work very seriously. Nothing moved until, some of us more vocal Americans, began to threaten riot, yelling at the cops and anyone else that we were going to miss our connecting flights. So they rolled up four more agents, and we began to get through the charade. Because charade is all these border controls are, don't let those programmes on the telly convince you that the Australian uptight Border People Protecting Australia are all that effective either.....I don't believe it!
I don't mind going through a careful inspection before getting on board the aircraft, I'm jolly well pleased that everyone's shoes are removed for analysis, and that people are chosen for a proper frisking, hope THAT happens with a bit of profiling, a la el al......but on arrival? give us a break.
Believe me, irritating though it was to see all the empty desks at Heathrow on arrival, and the queue for Europeans only slightly quicker than all the other poor souls waiting more than an hour,
Arriving in the USA can be far far worse! Dulles Washington, for one. A three hour wait in steaming hot conditions, old people drooping with fatigue, babies screaming, Ellis Island had to be a resort in comparison! And that was with my American passport! To top it all off, there was another queue once you had your baggage, and for all those hundreds of limp arrivals, One and only One agent to ask if you had any items of foodstuffs not permitted! and she was taking her work very seriously. Nothing moved until, some of us more vocal Americans, began to threaten riot, yelling at the cops and anyone else that we were going to miss our connecting flights. So they rolled up four more agents, and we began to get through the charade. Because charade is all these border controls are, don't let those programmes on the telly convince you that the Australian uptight Border People Protecting Australia are all that effective either.....I don't believe it!
I don't mind going through a careful inspection before getting on board the aircraft, I'm jolly well pleased that everyone's shoes are removed for analysis, and that people are chosen for a proper frisking, hope THAT happens with a bit of profiling, a la el al......but on arrival? give us a break.
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the European country with the most illegal immigrants is Italy
