Border controls

[anotheoldgit]

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1 3557954,00.html
It had to happen if it is true.
Should our border controls now be tightened up?

[IggyB]

well of course they should show their faces, i'm amazed that they aren't checking already.
must be quite simple to take them to a private area and a female member of staff check they are who they say they are.

[Lonnie]

Listening to a chat programme today, it turns out that if a woman in a Burqa presents herself at customs, all they do is check her ticket, which explains why and how this chap got out the country.

A baggage handler at Heathrow phoned in, he said that baggage coming in on private planes isn't checked.

At present, thanks to mr Blair and Co, we have no border controls at all, about time they were re-introduced,

[B00]

I can't believe they don't have to reveal their faces at check- in, came as a bit of a shock, I can tell ya!!!

So can we assume then that if they aren't checked on the way out, then they aren't checked on the way in either? That's very reassuring!

[Gromit]

Wow, that's a fantastic news story. Not only do you get an immigrant cop killer, but they have combined it with veiled muslim women (a particular favourite of the islamaphobes here) and border controls. Truly brilliant.

Shame there is no evidence that this story is true. It is pure speculation. One of many theories of how the suspect escaped back to Somalia. It is standard practice to asked women to remove the veil at passport control.

In the days before 24 hour rolling television news services, proof and evidence used have to be produced before a story was published. Now any old drivel appears without the merest of scrutiny. And gullible Islamaphobes lap it up.

[B00]

Whether it's true or not gromit, I honestly think it's a good idea that this c0ck up of checking in or out was highlighted. Maybe now they'll look into insisting that veils are removed for identification purposes?

[Gromit]

BOO,

BAA in a statement said

"Visual checks are carried out on people arriving in the UK but BAA, which owns and operates Heathrow airport, said it was the responsibility of individual airlines to confirm the identity of passengers at check-in and boarding gates."

I take this to mean the airlines do not have to do a visual check, but passport control DO.

Load of Boll0ck story.

[B00]

Take ya point and thanks for the quote....however I'm not saying it was their responsibility, i'm saying it should be someone's responsibility.

[jonnythebosh]

Islamophobia, gullible little people, conspiracy against immigrants, i'm so superior to you lot....... Yawn.

[johnizere]

Everybody...repeat everybody should and MUST be positively identified at point of entry or exit to this country...NO EXCEPTIONS.

[jonnythebosh]

Here, here johnizere.

[B00]

Agreed johnizere I find it totally surreal and bizarre why we don't (or appear not to anyway!) considering how security conscious we are supposed to be as a nation.

[Gromit]

I agree johnizere and BOO. If such an escape such as this is possible, then then security must be tightened. Everyone should be positively identified with there passport.

The story is unlikely to be true though.

[jno]

there are already checks on people entering the country but not many on people leaving, which is what this guy is said to have done; you just walk straight through into the duty-free shops. I suppose they could double the number of immigration officers and add an extra half hour on to the time it takes to get through security, but does anyone actually want this? Seems to me turning up at an airport 2 1/2 to 3 hours before takeoff is already a huge chunk out of the day.

But 'no border controls at all', Lonnie? Come on, you know that's a wild exaggeration if you've ever been through Heathrow. (I'm suprised by what you say about baggage on private planes not being checked, though, that does need addressing.)

[cockroach]

I'm going skiing this weekend...do you think it would be ok for me to wear my balaclava at the airport thru security & on the plane...I could say I have a skin complaint aswell that daylight affects.!!!! EVERYONE SHOULD SHOW THEIR FACES> EVERYONE... rant over :)

[anotheoldgit]

As a step towards racial intergration,. Let's declare a National Cover Your Face Day. Methinks it would cause chaos. Then perhaps we would all see an end to this ridiculous fashion statement once and for all.