Does anybody know whether the HMRC checks at Eurotunnel are legal?

[valgar]

I am very concerned about the strict checks that HMRC are carrying out when you leave UK and France at the Eurotunnel Terminals.

In addition, these checks are carried out not by Custom or Police officers but by Security staff which - according to my experience, having worked for the Police - may not be properly vetted.  Thanks.

[woolybanana]

Please explain more?

[Gardengirl]

We travelled from France to UK in mid-December, back to France for Christmas, and to UK 3 days later. We saw no difference in security checks to normal. We're heading back to France at the start of next week, so I'd be very interested to hear more about these  strict checks.

[Pickles]

[quote user="valgar"]I am very concerned about the strict checks that HMRC are carrying out when you leave UK and France at the Eurotunnel Terminals.

In addition, these checks are carried out not by Custom or Police officers but by Security staff which - according to my experience, having worked for the Police - may not be properly vetted.[/quote]

The security staff who carry out searches at airports in the UK are neither Borders Agency nor Police; they are employed by private companies. I haven't come across any claims that these searches are illegal. Irrelevant perhaps, irritating, of questionable efficacity, but not illegal. What's the difference between what is going on at airports and what happens at Eurotunnel?

Regards

Pickles

[AnOther]

[quote user="woolybanana"]Please explain more?[/quote]

Yes, what checks are you talking about and why concerned if you have nothing to hide ?

Personally we don't use the tunnel but it must represent a very tempting terrorist target and if I were using it I'd much rather put up with the minor irritation of a security check than find Osama bin Semtex exercising his one off skill mid way under the channel [:'(]

[AnOther]

On cue I see UK have this morning raised the terrorist threat level for mass transit facilities locations !

[Théière]

[quote user="AnOther"]On cue I see UK have this morning raised the terrorist threat level for mass transit facilities locations !

[/quote]

Phew, lucky I am travelling LD lines then. [:)] They would have a field day with me 120lts of waterbased paint!

[PaulT]

[quote user="valgar"]I am very concerned about the strict checks that HMRC are carrying out when you leave UK and France at the Eurotunnel Terminals.
In addition, these checks are carried out not by Custom or Police officers but by Security staff which - according to my experience, having worked for the Police - may not be properly vetted.  Thanks.
[/quote]

Mmm, as a regular user of the Tunnel I have never had a problem....

Yes, had the swab test for detecting explosives, asked once when towing a small trailer 'have you any propane in the trailer'.

What are the 'strict checks' that you talk about? Would have thought the Tunnel would make an ideal terrorist target - an enclosed space, like a tube train, so would concentrate a blast

Would be interested in your ascertion that 'may not be properly vetted' (one has never called me an Infidel) plus in what capacity did you work for the Police?

Paul

 

[Clarkkent]

I have never been aware of intrusive security checks at the Eurotunnel terminals. However, I was taken aback the last time I came back from France by the UK Borders Agency official who quizzed me about where I had been and for how long. I did consider asking him whether his questioning - after all, I was a British citizen with an EU passport in a UK registered car travelling in a Union which permits free movements of citizens of member countries - was legal or justified. Cowardice or discretion, I'm not sure which, prevailed.

Or perhaps he was just bored and wanted some stimulation during a rather tedious shift.

[AnOther]

I think many if not most will have encountered such questioning at one time or another, I certainly have, unfortunately the twirps who perform these unnecessary and intrusive interrogations have the power for that instant, and know it, so as you say discretion is the better half of being hauled into a cell for going over with a rubber truncheon.

[Gardengirl]

I also noted the mention of raised concerns about terrorist attacks this morning.

As a very regular user of the tunnel, I'm happy for whatever checks are deemed necessary. We've had explosives wipes around the car, just as we've had explosive 'wands' over our bodies occasionally at airports. Twice we've had full car checks, interestingly both times in the Porsche; it's very elderly, and we are no longer in our first flush of youth, and if we were considered a possible threat by anyone then our thought was that every single person must be. Our elderly Saab, our usual transport abroad, has never been stopped; it's being handed over to benefit a charity this weekend, so it will be interesting to see how our new car (a Prius) will be treated. I'll report back after our journey to France next week. [:)]

Any search they wish to do, any questions they wish to ask, we've gone along with; we have nothing to hide, we want to stay as safe as possible, so we go along with it all fairly cheerfully.

[Bugsy]

Have none of you people ever watched "The Matrix" ?

.

[Pickles]

[quote user="Clarkkent"]I did consider asking him whether his questioning - after all, I was a British citizen with an EU passport in a UK registered car travelling in a Union which permits free movements of citizens of member countries - was legal or justified.[/quote]

We - the UK - signed up to "free movement" but NOT the Schengen accord, which would have removed border checks, and which is the reason why there are no border checks on most internal European borders.

[quote user="Clarkkent"]Cowardice or discretion, I'm not sure which, prevailed.[/quote]

Sanity prevailed. The UKBA can ruin your day if they wish, at very little inconvenience to themselves.

Regards

Pickles

[Pierre ZFP]

I agree that mostly there are no border checks on most internal European borders but they do have crackdowns from time to time looking for large amounts of cash or drugs or firearms etc.  I got held up for hours on the autoroute at the German/Lux border 2 years back when they gave every vehicle the once over and believe me there were plenty of vehicles.

[pachapapa]

Always ask why I carry, bread knife, carving knife, etc in a camping car. But they have never confiscated them so they must be legal.

[Théière]

[quote user="gardengirl "]

Twice we've had full car checks, interestingly both times in the Porsche;

Always used by baddies in Hollywood films (James Bond etc)

 it will be interesting to see how our new car (a Prius) will be treated.

I don't think the authorities are allowed to laugh [;-)]

[/quote]

[Araucaria]

[quote user="AnOther"]I think many if not most will have encountered such questioning at one time or another, I certainly have, unfortunately the twirps who perform these unnecessary and intrusive interrogations have the power for that instant, and know it, so as you say discretion is the better half of being hauled into a cell for going over with a rubber truncheon.

[/quote]

It's not the rubber truncheon I'd be worried about so much as the rubber glove and the cavity search ....

[cooperlola]

[quote user="Théière"][quote user="gardengirl "]

Twice we've had full car checks, interestingly both times in the Porsche;

Always used by baddies in Hollywood films (James Bond etc)

 it will be interesting to see how our new car (a Prius) will be treated.

I don't think the authorities are allowed to laugh [;-)]

[/quote][/quote][:D]

 

Teapot has a point.  Talk about the sublime and the ridiculous, GG!

[Gardengirl]

Loved the comments from Teapot!  [:D]

But never fear, Cooperlola, we still have the Porsche. We're hoping to make big savings with the Prius though - fingers crossed!

[CeeJay]

Searches etc by security staff at all Ports is authorised by the Aviation & Maritime Security Act 1990 and reinforced by the Port Security Regulations 2009 as a result of an EU Directive. The Regulation sets up Security Authorities at all Ports and D of T Inspectors oversee the implementation of the Regs including any relevant training of staff.

[Théière]

[quote user="gardengirl "]

Loved the comments from Teapot!  [:D]

But never fear, Cooperlola, we still have the Porsche. We're hoping to make big savings with the Prius though - fingers crossed!

[/quote]

GG do you have one of those stickers in your prius.................

You know.....................................

 

 

My other cars a Porsche [:D]

[cooperlola]

[quote user="Théière"][quote user="gardengirl "]

Loved the comments from Teapot!  [:D]

But never fear, Cooperlola, we still have the Porsche. We're hoping to make big savings with the Prius though - fingers crossed!

[/quote]

GG do you have one of those stickers in your prius.................

You know.....................................

 

 

My other cars a Porsche [:D]

[/quote]And if not, why not?

[Gardengirl]

[:D][:D]