Key questions as Heathrow Airport pain continues
Why has the row over passport checks erupted now?
Airlines say that hold-ups have worsened in recent months because of cuts in the number of passport staff and the re-imposition of strict checks on all arriving passengers following the dismissal of border chief Brodie Clark last year.
How many fewer staff are there?
The UK Border Force currently has just over 7,500 staff nationwide, down from 8,874 in March 2010, as it seeks to achieve savings to comply with the Government’s public spending clampdown.
Are lower staff numbers the only reason for the problems?
No. The “Iris” eye-scanning system, which is meant to be a fast-track option, is regularly out of action, adding to delays. Airlines also complain that other technology that could speed up entry is inadequate or that staff are not adequately trained to use it. Better use of the mass of “advance passenger data” which border staff receive about arriving travellers could also allow low-risk visitors to be admitted more speedily.
Is there any solution in sight?
The Home Office insists most people still enter the country swiftly and that extra border staff will be in place to cope during the Olympics. It also claims that staff are deployed flexibly to cope with peak periods. But there is little sign of increase in staffing levels.
