Border Force delays

[drpeej]

Just arrived home after a slightly eventful trip. We had to change our return crossing to Santander-Portsmouth at short notice due to a mechanical issue with the van which meant I didnt want to drive the extra 1100km through France.

When we arrived at Portsmouth it took ages to disembark and there was a stationary queue up to the Border Force booths.

It took over an hour to get to the front of the queue. There were plenty of booths but the delay was caused by the detailed questioning everyone seemed to be getting. All motorhomes were being searched (even though this had already been done at Santander).

When our turn came, the officer spent ages examining our passports and I got the third degree about why I had travelled to China 6 years ago. (it was a visit to see our son who worked there)

Is this a new policy or is it peculiar to the Santander crossing?

Peter

 

[Simon Meadwell]

We came back via tunnel on Saturday no checks just stamped passport and gas off check.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

It's quicker by dingy these days.

 

[drpeej]

We came back via tunnel on Saturday no checks just stamped passport and gas off check.

That was my previous experience.

 

[MichaelT]

Just arrived home after a slightly eventful trip. We had to change our return crossing to Santander-Portsmouth at short notice due to a mechanical issue with the van which meant I didnt want to drive the extra 1100km through France.

When we arrived at Portsmouth it took ages to disembark and there was a stationary queue up to the Border Force booths.

It took over an hour to get to the front of the queue. There were plenty of booths but the delay was caused by the detailed questioning everyone seemed to be getting. All motorhomes were being searched (even though this had already been done at Santander).

When our turn came, the officer spent ages examining our passports and I got the third degree about why I had travelled to China 6 years ago. (it was a visit to see our son who worked there)

Is this a new policy or is it peculiar to the Santander crossing?

Peter

More likely they had intelligence about someone.

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[jongood]

We tend to avoid Portsmouth because its so disorganised, the loading always seems completely random and takes forever. We were there Sunday afternoon, only one boat to load and barely half full and still poor.

We've been on a lot of ferries in quite a few countries and most of them are better run.

 

[drpeej]

More likely they had intelligence about someone.

Wonder why they were so interested in my holiday in China.

 

[MichaelT]

Wonder why they were so interested in my holiday in China.

Make sure you are not a spy

 

[Beltie]

More likely they had intelligence about someone.

I think this may be the case. We returned to Plymouth from Santander a couple of weeks ago and were searched as were all motorhomes.
On the way out, we also noticed that Border Force were deploying the vehicle X - ray machine on incoming motorhomes.

 

[drpeej]

We tend to avoid Portsmouth because its so disorganised, the loading always seems completely random and takes forever. We were there Sunday afternoon, only one boat to load and barely half full and still poor.

We've been on a lot of ferries in quite a few countries and most of them are better run.

We had no choice because I had to change our booking 2 days ago and that was all that was available from Santander where we were stranded.

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[Bobandfay]

We came back in April from Santander to Portsmouth we were off the ferry and on the motorway in under 30 minutes straight through we must have been lucky.

 

[Deadloss]

We came back through Portsmouth from St Malo a couple of weeks ago. Every motorhome was being searched - for illegal immigrants. We had to open the garage and internal wardrobes, basically anywhere a human might hide. We were fortunate that we were one of the first off the ferry, as I suspect there would have been long queues. Perhaps they’ve had a tip-off?

 

[drpeej]

We came back through Portsmouth from St Malo a couple of weeks ago. Every motorhome was being searched - for illegal immigrants. We had to open the garage and internal wardrobes, basically anywhere a human might hide. We were fortunate that we were one of the first off the ferry, as I suspect there would have been long queues. Perhaps they’ve had a tip-off?

On our outward journey, we were the first vehicle off the ferry. I suppose it all balances out

 

[Devon Sue]

We travelled Roscoff to Plymouth on Sunday 25th June, unlike other trips there was no vehicle search although there were plenty of French border officers around. Also unlike other trips the customs shed was open, the vehicle in front of us was pulled in to the green lane, we were directed past. I noticed as we walked back to our van before disembarking that some vehicles has a small yellow sticker saying security check, don't know if they were the ones to get pulled over.

 

[eddie]

Wonder why they were so interested in my holiday in China.

Perhaps he fancied going there himself

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[cyberyacht]

I've never had a mega delay coming into Portsmouth. Just as well as it's only about 15/20 minutes to home from there.

 

[jongood]

We came back through Portsmouth from St Malo a couple of weeks ago. Every motorhome was being searched - for illegal immigrants. We had to open the garage and internal wardrobes, basically anywhere a human might hide. We were fortunate that we were one of the first off the ferry, as I suspect there would have been long queues. Perhaps they’ve had a tip-off?

Or rooms free in the local hotels

 

[CamperManLez]

Big farce last week at Hull, 100% inspection all vehicles. Useless clods had it badly organised, I think it was more about a training exercise. Dozens of border force people standing around, I was about No 10 of the MH,s to get off, took me 1 3/4 hours to get out of P&O, no consideration to the fact EVERYONE had journeys to make. I felt sorry for all the vans / caravans behind me.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Is this a new policy or is it peculiar to the Santander crossing?

We’re you driving a Carthargo?

 

[bobandjanie]

A couple of weeks ago at Dunkirk they checked every cupboard under the bed from inside, I then had to drop the bike rack down, checked under the same one and only bed again then they even checked in the gas locker, being Spanish registered asked why we was there and how long we was staying the only place they never looked was in the fridge. Bob.

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[drpeej]

A couple of weeks ago at Dunkirk they checked every cupboard under the bed from inside, I then had to drop the bike rack down, checked under the same one and only bed again then they even checked in the gas locker, being Spanish registered asked why we was there and how long we was staying the only place they never looked was in the fridge. Bob.

Must be costing Suella a fortune

 

[Imala615]

Just back from a Newhaven - Dieppe crossing out May back Sunday and apart from the usual check in the bathroom and under the benches we sailed through going and coming back.

 

[bobandjanie]

Must be costing Suella a fortune

I suppose they are doing their jobs properly, maybe the boss man is watching because we had a questionnaire on the boat basically asking if they do a good job protecting the borders.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

We came back on the tunnel last week and apart from the Twat in a little Morgan car jumping the queue then going through the lane saying motorhomes and coaches we had just the normal quick look around by the French chap.
It was however busier than normal

 

[sgl5gjr]

A couple of weeks ago at Dunkirk they checked every cupboard under the bed from inside, I then had to drop the bike rack down, checked under the same one and only bed again then they even checked in the gas locker, being Spanish registered asked why we was there and how long we was staying the only place they never looked was in the fridge. Bob.

We had that at Dunkirk.... in March this year... French security, Douane, Passport control, Border Farce, UK security, UK Customs.... all apart from Passport did internal checks..... then we had the same sh*t with UK border farce at Dover..... everyone checked inside and importantly the shower..... never the fridge mind...lol..... and we had no booze etc coming back.... just wished I'd had purchased that bike as they never checked the bikes on the rack....

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[seasideBill]

Returned via Dunkirk yesterday, just the usual cursory checks, 2 or 3 minutes each side of the border but no sniffer dog. Straight through Dover in a few minutes.

 

[Nanniemate]

Big farce last week at Hull, 100% inspection all vehicles. Useless clods had it badly organised, I think it was more about a training exercise. Dozens of border force people standing around, I was about No 10 of the MH,s to get off, took me 1 3/4 hours to get out of P&O, no consideration to the fact EVERYONE had journeys to make. I felt sorry for all the vans / caravans behind me.

Could be military training for next strike

 

[MikenPauline]

The only guaranteed way to avoid the searches is to cross on one of those rubber dinghy thing and get picked up by the RNLI. You also get a stay in a nice hotel and the govt. bungs you living expenses as well.

 

[Kups]

Travelled back St Malo to Portsmouth on Sunday.
Zero checks in St Malo. But six check in desks down to one French passport desk. Nice to have a large vehicle to push through in! One hour to passport stamp from arrival. Inadvertently left the fridge on (naughty, naughty), well nobody from BF asked if we had turned it off.
Zero checks in Portsmouth apart from verbal question, "has the vehicle been locked all the time". All desks open, through in five minutes.

 

[JnJ]

Came back Hook of Holland to Harwich last night no checks either end. We were 2 hours late though due to the 'super storm' crossing the Netherlands.

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