Sharp rise in passengers accidentally bypassing UK border controls
The Government is considering fining airlines and airports after it emerged that the number of misdirected passengers at UK border checks jumped by 70% from 1,364 in 2016 to 2,328 in 2017.
Home Office figures, released following a Freedom of Information request, showed more than 11,000 air passengers were misdirected and accidentally bypassed UK border checks between 2013 and 2017.
It is considering levying a fine of up to £50,000 on carriers and operators responsible for misdirecting passengers, using a power that exists under the Immigration Act 2016.
The Home Office insisted there were no examples of dangerous individuals arriving unchecked because of a misdirection, but acknowledged a ‘relatively small but unacceptable’ number are misdirected.
But the Airport Operators Association (AOA) said it did not agree with penalties, saying it was ‘disproportionate’ in light of the numbers of passengers involved.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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