Saturday, August 03, 2013

Is it me?

The recent revelations that the system of counting in and counting out people from the U.K isn't 'fit for purpose' doesn't come as much of a surprise does it? I posted my own anecdotal evidence on a BBC site a couple of years ago about my experience coming back from Paris and also on here the rather over zealous approach of the U.K border control officers when returning from Germany in 2011. I think most people appreciate the need for security checks but immigration checks seem very much a hit and miss affair and also something of a self service arrangement in certain circumstances.

What I do find staggering is the news that the system for counting those in and out will not be ready until 2018, how is that possible? As an island with only a fairly limited number of, legal, entry points via ports and airports etc you would think that the electronic process of recording passport details would be fairly straightforward in fact if you spend a little time thinking about it you soon realise that it isn't a difficult logistical exercise at all. All passports have information on them that can be read by a machine at customs/border control, this information can surely be converted into data for statistical purposes. This doesn't involve any voluntary questions, any delays or any infringements of basic 'human rights', moreover if you are a citizen of the EU you are usually ushered into a separate queue from the rest of the world.

Away from ports and airports there are thousands of small harbours around the country but even here there are fairly adequate controls in place, either formally through customs or informally through the local harbour masters or even locals themselves. Boats over a certain size have to be fitted with radios and tracking equipment and those under that size tend to be small pleasure boats which people only use at the weekend. I know that we have grown up with the idea of a country dotted with endless private runways where the bad guys in James Bond movies can land their aircraft but planes landing in the U.K are subject to radar and flight plan filing regulations and it's hard to imagine a 747 full of asylum seekers or illegal immigrants slipping in under the radar.

If you think of the U.K, with all its entry and exit points, as a giant supermarket that has to maintain some level of stock control it's not to hard to imagine a working system that records people entering and leaving the U.K and also their country of origin when arriving or leaving. It does seem rather ironic that we live in an age where our electronic movements can be tracked and yet our physical movement can by-pass any form of official identification.

5 comments:

Span Ows said...

Good post and thanks for the link (and your comments).

The supermarket analogy is quite good especially as there are other criteria that don't get included in a number in-number out system: what of the quality, imagine that every day a high-end, quality, branded and expensive product was removed from the shelves and replaced by an own-brand value cheapo version of debatable quality: soon that supermarket would be a very different outlet. I ma not saying that this is the case but certainly part of it because many many immigrants are not the professional with independent means that will contribute to UK Plc.

Paul said...

Thank you.

I agree with your thinking, skills are what is needed not an influx of low skilled workers whose only skill seems to be taking ever lower wages.

oakleyses said...

north face, nike air max uk, sac hermes, hollister uk, nike air force, louboutin pas cher, michael kors, oakley pas cher, converse pas cher, abercrombie and fitch uk, hollister pas cher, nike free run, jordan pas cher, nike tn, burberry pas cher, longchamp pas cher, timberland pas cher, nike air max, polo ralph lauren, nike roshe, lululemon canada, ralph lauren uk, true religion outlet, guess pas cher, vans pas cher, sac longchamp pas cher, nike air max uk, true religion jeans, hogan outlet, north face uk, new balance, air max, ray ban pas cher, nike free uk, true religion outlet, nike blazer pas cher, sac vanessa bruno, michael kors pas cher, ray ban uk, polo lacoste, michael kors outlet, mulberry uk

oakleyses said...

hollister clothing, giuseppe zanotti outlet, lululemon, wedding dresses, abercrombie and fitch, hermes belt, asics running shoes, bottega veneta, celine handbags, soccer shoes, valentino shoes, ferragamo shoes, vans outlet, mcm handbags, timberland boots, nike roshe run uk, longchamp uk, nike air max, north face outlet, p90x workout, new balance shoes, insanity workout, iphone 6 cases, herve leger, instyler, oakley, hollister, nike huaraches, soccer jerseys, nike trainers uk, babyliss, chi flat iron, ghd hair, baseball bats, jimmy choo outlet, mont blanc pens, north face outlet, mac cosmetics, beats by dre, nfl jerseys, reebok outlet, nike roshe run

oakleyses said...

ralph lauren, vans, gucci, pandora jewelry, ray ban, hollister, ugg, swarovski crystal, links of london, lancel, toms shoes, juicy couture outlet, montre pas cher, pandora uk, replica watches, converse outlet, ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, coach outlet, ugg uk, hollister, ugg pas cher, uggs outlet, ugg boots, supra shoes, pandora charms, marc jacobs, louboutin, thomas sabo, juicy couture outlet, ugg boots, karen millen uk, uggs outlet, converse, swarovski, uggs on sale, nike air max, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, wedding dresses