Dover Calais border crossing delays - deliberate?

[Alucidnation]

Have the migrants at Calais gone home now?

There doesn't seem to be much talk of them anymore.

[anonymous-user]

RYH64E said:

There might be a temporary problem at Dover, but it's likely to be very temporary and not the grand anti-British conspiracy people suspect.

BBC reporting delays into France could continue for weeks... can't be arsed chancing it. I can understand why people are suspicious; a shortage is one thing, 1 officer on duty for the whole of Dover smacks of contempt. Can't say I'm looking forward to 7 hours on the ferry from Harwich but it beats sitting in traffic for 15 minutes in the car I'm taking...

[RYH64E]

fblm said:

BBC reporting delays into France could continue for weeks... can't be arsed chancing it. I can understand why people are suspicious; a shortage is one thing, 1 officer on duty for the whole of Dover smacks of contempt. Can't say I'm looking forward to 7 hours on the ferry from Harwich but it beats sitting in traffic for 15 minutes in the car I'm taking...

I'll be interested in how you get on with the Harwich ferry, I've often considered it because Harwich is much closer to home than Dover, but the long sailing time has always put me off, that and getting into Holland adds to the long drive south.

We always book an early (6am-ish) ferry from Dover and usually travel mid-August, if we were doing the same this year I'd be fairly confident of a trouble free journey.

[Riley Blue]

fblm said:

RYH64E said:

There might be a temporary problem at Dover, but it's likely to be very temporary and not the grand anti-British conspiracy people suspect.

BBC reporting delays into France could continue for weeks... can't be arsed chancing it. I can understand why people are suspicious; a shortage is one thing, 1 officer on duty for the whole of Dover smacks of contempt. Can't say I'm looking forward to 7 hours on the ferry from Harwich but it beats sitting in traffic for 15 minutes in the car I'm taking...

In an interesting twist it's also reported that French port officials and politicians are critical of the handling of passport checks by French customs/police.

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/dover-calais-q...

[Cobnapint]

There is no logical connection between these extra checks and the Nice attack (the attacker/s were already embedded).

And I'm sure the French aren't so spiteful as to want to get revenge on us for Brexit at this random moment in time.

So there can only be one real reason.

The French are very much FOR free movement within the EU. Theresa May has just met with Hollande and he told her 'No single market without free movement' - then wadda-you-know, in come the increased checks.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a pre-Brexit negotiations cynical ploy by the French to 'demonstrate' just how much chaos would be caused by us not agreeing to free movement.
And I bet Merkels in on the trick too.

[PositronicRay]

Cobnapint said:

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a pre-Brexit negotiations cynical ploy by the French to 'demonstrate' just how much chaos would be caused by us not agreeing to free movement.
And I bet Merkels in on the trick too.

Some real paranoid bks

[gtidriver]

[quote=Cobnapint]There is no logical connection between these extra checks and the Nice attack (the attacker/s were already embedded).


The day after the Nice attacks I went to France on the tunnel, the U.K. Police and immigration checked our passports, French did not. So much for there enhanced security checks.

[DJFish]

fblm said:

Screw it, just booked Harwich to Holland instead, sorry mes amis no euros from me this year.

Food is pricey & not great but the cabins are comfortable & good value, plus there are bars (free if you sign up to their frequent flyer programme) plus a cinema and play area (+kids entertainer) it's not a bad crossing.

Edited by DJFish on Monday 25th July 22:46

Edited by DJFish on Monday 25th July 22:48

[Pan Pan Pan]

To be fair this happens in the UK too, I once spent five hours trying to get off a channel ferry in Newhaven, where just one woman was manning the border booths.
One has to remember that all those UK tourists will be going to and spending tourist money in the EU countries they are visiting, so if that is hindered it will be at the loss of income from UK tourists in those countries. Also not very good for those EU nationals visiting the UK, who want to get back to their respective countries/jobs etc.

[Sharted]

I was once delayed at Santander because some tt of a lorry driver ripped open his fuel tank in one of the ramps.

fking Spanish ramps.

[dcb]

gtidriver said:

The day after the Nice attacks I went to France on the tunnel, the U.K. Police and immigration checked our passports, French did not. So much for there enhanced security checks.

+1

Recent tunnel usage has been

1. Full check by the Brits, scanning all passports for terrorists and an occasional
go in the security tunnel for a deeper check.

2. Wave through by the French, not bothering with passports.


Based on personal experience, I am struggling to understand how the French can
be blamed. They are faster than the Brits.

[s3fella]

dcb said:

+1

Recent tunnel usage has been

1. Full check by the Brits, scanning all passports for terrorists and an occasional
go in the security tunnel for a deeper check.

2. Wave through by the French, not bothering with passports.


Based on personal experience, I am struggling to understand how the French can
be blamed. They are faster than the Brits.

You do know the tunnel isn't at Dover, don't you?

[Esseesse]

bristolracer said:

s3fella said:

So much choice on the inent, granted. Shot or mowed down in France, blown up in Belgium, hatchetted to bits or touched up / raped in Germany? Just so much more choice for your holiday than staying in the UK.

Edited by s3fella on Monday 25th July 07:19

There but for the grace........
We have just been lucky so far.
Something will happen here it's just a matter of time.
As Nice proves it doesn't have to be another 7/7 type scenario.
Any Western Europe country is at risk.

Not just luck. I think our security and intelligence services are a cut above the rest in Europe.

[Esseesse]

DJFish said:

fblm said:

Screw it, just booked Harwich to Holland instead, sorry mes amis no euros from me this year.

Food is pricey & not great but the cabins are comfortable & good value, plus there are bars (free if you sign up to their frequent flyer programme) plus a cinema and play area (+kids entertainer) it's not a bad crossing.

A real shame they moved the fast boat from Harwich to the Hook of Holland. If you're taking this crossing I think you're probably better off doing it in the night and having some sleep.

Edited by Esseesse on Thursday 28th July 12:11

[anonymous-user]

RYH64E said:

I'll be interested in how you get on with the Harwich ferry, I've often considered it because Harwich is much closer to home than Dover, but the long sailing time has always put me off, that and getting into Holland adds to the long drive south...

Well it worked out great. The run SE to Spa/Nurburgring from Hook of Holland is actually 60 odd km shorter than from Calais and for anyone north of London, Harwich is 50 odd miles closer than Dover and avoids the M25. I got the overnight ferry so the long sailing time was perfect, cabin very comfortable for a sleep and shower. Food was dreadful though, so take your own. No sign at all of any immigration nonsense. Can't see me ever going Dover Calais again.

As an aside, just how stoned was the guy who designed the Rotterdam ringroad? I got lost 3 times!

[gizlaroc]

fblm said:

As an aside, just how stoned was the guy who designed the Rotterdam ringroad? I got lost 3 times!

You sure it was the designer that was stoned?

I might try that crossing next time, sounds good.

Last time I did it was 20 years ago, but remember it working well.

[anonymous-user]

gizlaroc said:

You sure it was the designer that was stones?

Possibly deranged...

[Wills2]

dcb said:

+1

Recent tunnel usage has been

1. Full check by the Brits, scanning all passports for terrorists and an occasional
go in the security tunnel for a deeper check.

2. Wave through by the French, not bothering with passports.


Based on personal experience, I am struggling to understand how the French can
be blamed. They are faster than the Brits.

Based on my experience at the tunnel last week I'd agree more queues and security on the UK bit of the border in both directions the French just waved me through both times.

Things were certainty easier via the tunnel than the ferry it seems.

[mikees]

Went to calais last Thursday, to buy wine and champagne. No real delays or signs of hassle. Quite a few federal police but was middle of day.

Edit: this was p&o from dover