Strange security check

[Wunja]

Coming home on the ferry on Sunday night, there was a security check. No scanners but a manual search of a representative bag.
"Any sharp items or knives?" the security guy asked. "No" I replied completely forgetting the diner knife I had left in the bag. He completely failed to find it or check any of the other bags that contained water pistols which would have been a problem on an aeroplane.
However, if he was checking for weapons, surely there are plenty of things amongst the ferry's operating equipment to use.
Needless to say, there was no such check in Holland on the way out.
What was the point of it?

 

[MoodySabre]

It made the other passengers, who saw you being turned over, feel more secure. You got chosen because you are dodgy looking and had a child with you for "cover".

 

[Auntie Helen]

I expect they'd heard about those scary pirates messing around just down the coast.

On another note, I found it rather odd having to cycle through the car checking area when going to Holland, with a pannier including lots of dangerous items (bike repair tools, could become weapons; razor, etc) and no-one seems to mind.

 

[Wunja]

It made the other passengers, who saw you being turned over, feel more secure. You got chosen because you are dodgy looking and had a child with you for "cover".

You mean the dangerous looking child with parent for cover?

 

[eastcoastbernie]

Joe left some pirate clobber on board Beyond Reason. Do you want to PM me your address so I can post it to you?

Sorry, not prepared to post the beer you left on board. That will have to liberated in the traditional way.

 

[Wunja]

Beer liberation was intended :self emptying beer icon:

 

[Oliveoyl]

We had that once on the ferry Dover -Calais. Had been camping, so sharp items ranged from tent pegs to kitchen knives. Declared all, and told to go on our way.
Wot was the point?

 

[JKay]

We had that once on the ferry Dover -Calais. Had been camping, so sharp items ranged from tent pegs to kitchen knives. Declared all, and told to go on our way.

Wot was the point ?

 

[CPD]

I was once in France coming back via Eurotunnel with an employee who had mistakenly, and genuinely, picked up his girlfriends passport whilst in Paris. He realised what had happened literally minutes before "border control" so we discussed the matter and decided to play dumb, having been through passport control possibly hundreds of times and knowing that more often than not a cursory glance, if that, is all that is received. The inspector took the passports and proceeded to (apparently) thoroughly inspect both. He handed them both back and nodded. He was well bult, dark and very hairy - she was blonde. And I'm almost certain that it happened post 9/11. Scary really.

 

[Koeketiene]

Scary really.

Not scary - just human. No system's perfect.

Secure borders are an illusion - and even eBorders won't change that.

 

[bendyone]

Last week at Calais I was searched by French customs on the way home. First time ever to this level. I had full set of tools and boat bits in the car. She put her hand into the plastic bag containing my old well used sump pump, after examining her black oily hand she gave up

 

[Dizzy101]

I was once in France coming back via Eurotunnel with an employee who had mistakenly, and genuinely, picked up his girlfriends passport whilst in Paris. He realised what had happened literally minutes before "border control" so we discussed the matter and decided to play dumb, having been through passport control possibly hundreds of times and knowing that more often than not a cursory glance, if that, is all that is received. The inspector took the passports and proceeded to (apparently) thoroughly inspect both. He handed them both back and nodded. He was well bult, dark and very hairy - she was blonde. And I'm almost certain that it happened post 9/11. Scary really.

I suppose they are quite used to transvestites travelling these days giving him the benefit of the doubt.

John