Home Office tries to hush up airport delays
The Home Office has tried to ban Heathrow airport from distributing a leaflet explaining the on-going delays at immigration.
Several times last week delays were reported at immigration with some frustrated passengers storming past officials without showing their documents.
On Saturday airport operator BAA issued a leaflet apologising to passengers for the "very long delays" and saying people entering the country "deserved a warmer welcome".
The leaflet suggested that passengers should complain to the Home Office.
However in an email leaked to the Daily Telegraph, Marc Owen, the director of UK Border Agency operations at Heathrow, told BAA the leaflet was "inappropriate".
The email said: "The leaflet is not all right with us. It is both inflammatory and likely to increase tensions in arrivals halls especially in the current atmosphere.
"Please refrain from handing out [the leaflets] or I will escalate [the matter] with ministers who are likely to take a very dim view."
It also told BAA to stop passengers taking pictures of the queues in the arrivals hall.
It will add to growing pressure on Damian Green, the immigration minister, who has to appear before the Commons home affairs select committee next week.
There are growing concerns about Heathrow’s ability to cope with the influx of millions of visitors during the Olympics.
The disruption comes after the reintroduction of full passport checks following controversy over the relaxation of procedures last year.
The Border Force is to fly staff from Manchester to ease the situation at Heathrow.
A statement jointly issued by BAA and the Border Force to the Daily Telegraph said: "The majority of passengers pass through immigration control quickly but there are sometimes delays at airports for a range of reasons. We think it’s important passengers are given the full picture.
"We will not compromise border security but we will work together to keep delays to a minimum."
By Diane Evans
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