comment on border control

[John_374564913]

I returned to the UK on Saturday night by ferry before boarding in France we went through passport control then I was told to pull over

two men came across and asked for the caravan door to be opened they got in with there dirty boots and went all over the caravan

I said would they like it if I went into there home with dirty boots the reply was the following:

(quote) we have the authority if you don't like it don't leave England (unquote)

Do we now live in a police state.

 

[DavidKlyne]

You would be surprised. HM Customs have greater powers than the Police! Comments or wisecracks are best avoided however justified they are!

David

 

[Jennifer_374461363]

I would not have been happy either if that happened to our van.

I said as much last year on another forum and a lot of people "jumped on me".

Power they may have, but I don't think it is unreasonable to expect to be treated with courtesy.

When we came back from France last November, the UK immigration requested to look in our van. The guy just poked his head inside the door and took a quick look. We could have had several illegal immigrants stashed in the rear washroom, or under the fixed bed and they would never have known!

 

[ValA.]

Do you mean UK customs in France? If so, then they're checking to make sure that any illegal immigrants haven't got into your caravan somewhere en-route - and it has happened - we've seen that with a lorry and an illegal cargo! We've been checked almost every time we've come through the port in France - but always with courtesy, and never by men with dirty boots, who were rude! Sometimes it was a very thorough check with every locker being opened, mirrors on sticks underneath, and even the boot of the car being examined, sometimes just a cursory glance inside, but I've never minded in the least. They are only trying to protect you from a huge fine, and a possible prison sentence should anyone be found once you've actually crossed the channel.

A smile always helps, after all they're only doing their job, and you can always clean your carpets!

 

[marlot]

A friend of mine, who was a customs officer, told of stripping down a car at the port, which they were convinced had drugs. Then they didn't know how to put some of it together again, so had to call a local garage (I think at the owners expense).

 

[anotherDavid]

We had a very thorough search by french customs at Caen last year by a woman officer who was certainly not blessed with any charm We were asked if we had any knives in the van! She kept us so long that we could have missed the sailing. As David Klyne said its not a good idea to argue as I could see she would have definitly made us miss the boat.

However on the immigration side of the argument we all know who is to blame and I for one dont want to bring anyone in.

Dave

 

[RayS]

We have had the van searched outbound at Portsmouth and inbound at Caen - done wwith reasonable courtesy. But none of the searchers looked under the double bed, even though I suggested it on one occaision.

Since searching is going to be a regular thing, and the people doing it are obvioously not going to take their boots off first, suggest putting some newspapers or other protection down over the carpet just for the port - we normally do this as wherever you get out of your car in the dock area there is a possibility of diesel spill or worse.

 

[Jennifer_374461363]

Yes, we always have an old sheet handy just in case.

All the customs/immigration people we have spoken to have always been very pleasant.