UK Borders Agency

[Daydream believer]

You must be a realist. What would be the situation without any border controls. Try some constructive comment-tell us what YOU would do instead,within the obviously tight budget. ..

The budget cannot be that tight of we are happy to give free welfare to all & sundry who do come here

 

[ianj99]

About 6 weeks ago my co-owners and I went for a very enjoyable sail down the Firth of Forth to Inchcolm and back. As we drifted downriver we saw what used to be the Customs Cutter drifting in the opposite direction. Imagine our surprise when, as we beat back up the river to be intercepted by a RIB dropped from the cutter with 4 geezers in black overalls. The conversation went:
UKBA: Good afternoon, how many persons are aboard please?
Cherry Ripe: Good afternoon to you. Four persons aboard.
UKBA: Can you tell me where you have come from?
CR: Port Edgar.
(Port Ed was approximately 3 miles E at this point and of course we asume that the eagle-eyed operatives had already observed our passage down river and around Inchcolm.)
UKBA: And can you tell me where you are heading?
CR: Yes, we are heading for Port Edgar.
At this point they looked somewhat bemused, as if the concept of a 'day sail' was foreign to them.
It did not seem like a very productive use of the State's apparently ever-dwindling resources, frankly.

I had the same encounter in May off the West Coast south of Kerrera near Oban. I kept heading north at 6kts whilst they motored alongside n the rib. They were friendly and polite - non of that cynical, accusatorial manner of the old bill.
A few days later they were in Loch Craignish 20miles south probably checking that I was from where I had said I was!

Due to the lack of customs officers at most of our smaller ports and marinas not bothered who they give a berth to, I think they do an essential job and are probably under resourced.

 

[KellysEye]

>I am opposed to this unnecessary and unwanted paramilitary force imposed on us and will henceforth refuse to co-operate with them in any way whatsoever - even to the extent of ignoring anything they do and say, and answering no questions.

What have they done to upset you?

 

[oldbilbo]

>I am opposed to this unnecessary and unwanted paramilitary force imposed on us and will henceforth refuse to co-operate with them in any way whatsoever - even to the extent of ignoring anything they do and say, and answering no questions.

What have they done to upset you?

Lady Campanula, the OP, continues to treat such 'rude mechanicals' with all the contempt she can muster - which is considerable - and does not deign to respond to impertinent interrogation by others such as 'KellysEye', even should she chose to remember the expression of an opinion made some two-and-a-half years ago....

Besides which, it seems unlikely that you have been properly introduced....