UK Customs clearance

[timbo48]

Got back to Portsmouth from Caen on Monday night and took an hour to get from the ferry to the M275 due to extra rigourous examination of passports by the UK Border Agency. Guy in the kiosk was quite apologetic though.
So be prepared for a long wait on return from the race........

[Man-At-Arms]

probably because they've dropped a bk recently at Heathrow

i don't think there'll be checking too rigourously at Dover, there will be A LOT of people coming back on the Monday

[anonymous-user]

Yep had the same at Portsmouth last year remember it well still just looking forward to June now

[Craigyp79]

Man-At-Arms said:

probably because they've dropped a bk recently at Heathrow

i don't think there'll be checking too rigourously at Dover, there will be A LOT of people coming back on the Monday

Passport control has been at Calais for the last 8 years, there is also to be NO relaxation of full biometric checks so expect massive queues.

[timbo48]

I missed last year but the year before IIRC two ferries docked at the same time, creating huge queues. At that time they were just looking at the passport photos, making sure that the occupants looked approximately like their photos and waving the car on. This time with only one boat docking it took ages due to an electronic check of the passports and as has been said this is as a result of last years Heathrow messup. I really do think that we're in for a long frustrating wait.

[FredericRobinson]

Security will only be getting stronger nearer the Olympics

[a.christie]

Would much rather wait, than have a boatload (or another)of illegals over here.Got enough of the feckers here as it is.Was thinking of taking a few over with me to France,but as you know the French just move `em on.

[fatboy18]

Shame we have to come back

[RS 6]

Same at Tunnel on saturday, got there 1 hr early still missed 2 trains was f~~kin livid, but kept cool as the rubber glove garage was in view of angry drivers. Im sure the bloke was looking at my 8 year olds passport then me and thinking I was looking older!!

Edited by RS 6 on Thursday 19th April 22:07

[EnjyBenjy]

timbo48 said:

I missed last year but the year before IIRC two ferries docked at the same time, creating huge queues. At that time they were just looking at the passport photos, making sure that the occupants looked approximately like their photos and waving the car on. This time with only one boat docking it took ages due to an electronic check of the passports and as has been said this is as a result of last years Heathrow messup. I really do think that we're in for a long frustrating wait.

Yes I remember that. I boiled my T350C sat in the queue. It was fine all the rest of the trip until we got off the ferry. Also remember an Artic crushing a Chimaera against the side wall of the inside of the ferry.

[E31Shrew]

We arrived back from France last Friday and had the same problem at Portsmouth. Again from Caen.
While waiting at the Caen terminal we spent the best part of an hour watching the guy do his 'security' checks on the trucks going on the same ferry. Not one was inspected inside, just a quick glance under the trailer to see if anyone was hanging off! Wondered if the French are really bothered if a truck load of ilegals leave their country?
He then came over to the car and asked us to open the boot. Saw an opened packet of 200 cigs and asked if we had any more. I told him we had driven to Spain and had approx 2000. He then said we could be accused of hiding them and said we had better get them out on display. Before leaving the UK I checked on the Customs site and it seems a tad confusing. Says max 3200 per person [ there was just me and wifey in the car] but then gives a figure of 900 each...still can't make head nor tail of it.
As you were!