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BRITS have been warned of “likely disruption” at three places in the UK this summer as new travel rules come into force.
The European Union‘s plans to scrap border entry and exit stamps will be implemented this autumn.
Travel may be disrupted this autumn due to a new system for checking people in and out of the UK[/caption]
Previously tourist’s passports were manually stamped as they went in and out of the EU but this is all set to change.
The new European Entry/Exit System (EES) will see digital records being created that link a travel document to a person’s identity using biometrics.
It will require non-EU citizens arriving in a Schengen area destination (most EU countries) to register their fingerprints, provide a facial scan and answer questions about their stay.
On departure, travellers’ details will be checked against the EES database to confirm compliance with existing rules on time limits of stay and register departure.
Britain’s new Labour government said it was supportive of the aims of the EES but not content with the level of preparations put in place by the previous Conservative administration.
Junior Home Office Minister Seema Malhotra gave a written statement to parliament.
It said: “The system will increase processing times at Schengen area border crossing points, and insufficient progress has been made on ensuring that these impacts are minimised – with disruption likely when the scheme is introduced.”
The statement added that this was particularly true for journeys involving travel through the UK’s three ports with Registration being required at Eurostar at London St Pancras, Eurotunnel in Folkestone, and the Port of Dover.
Malhotra said the government was taking steps to improve preparations and levels of readiness.
These include expanding the French border control zone at the Port of Dover to reduce the risk of queues a busy times and working closely with the French government on implementation plans.
It comes as Brits were warned of huge queues at Dover today as holidaymakers sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic ahead of the checkpoint.
Travel mayhem was sparked on July 26 when flights were scrapped and Eurostar trains axed as the summer holidays kicked off.
Holiday getaway traffic ground to a halt on the A20 near the Port of Dover in Kent this morning.
The border control point said they were expecting its busiest weekend, with 11,000 tourist cars over the course of today.
Drivers sitting in a sea of red brake lights reported punishing queues ahead of the UK’s busiest port.
However, a spokesperson for the port said it was “free flowing” on Saturday morning and reported wait times of just five minutes at border control.
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