Port checks at Dover and Calais

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There were 20 or more boarder staff using mirrors, bonnets up, lockers open and stuff unloaded. 

Steve, we came through Harwich last night from Hook of Holland and there was chaos, firstly in the unloading of the vehicles due to very inept inexperienced staff on board not knowing how to unload, which soon became a free for all and then at the control itself. We asked one of the people directing the queues why there was such a chaotic scene and she said it was due to a lot of border control staff being redirected that morning to Stansted airport due to a lack of border staff there so they were short staffed at the port.

Seems a common theme across all forms of international transport at the moment and coupled with extra checks following Brexit it just leads to delays.

They did this when we went out to France in January. Fortunately there was less than 100 cars etc. to check. We did wonder why UK staff were being so vigorous with people travelling out rather than returning. Nobody bothered checking anything leaving Holland yesterday.

We must have been very fortunate.

We travelled out from Portsmouth to St Malo on the 5th May, no problems at either end, sailed through.

Returned today, Caen to Portsmouth. Again no problem at either side.

They did check every vehicle on the Caen Port it took seconds, our friend got pulled at Portsmouth for a check. 

We crossed on the 7/6 overnight from Plymouth and it appeared that every LV was checked.

Staff checking had no indication of their status other than caps and jackets marked “security” and certainly nothing to suggest they were anything other than privately employed staff.

We were instructed to stop and turn off the engine and told we would be asked a series of questions before the guy then apologised-And it was those very questions he apologised for! “Have you any knives-well, I can see you have a caravan so that will be a yes”.
The one that I nearly responded to, but stopped myself, was “are the drugs you have prescription?”

As he hadn’t asked  if I had any, of whatever persuasion, I think he skipped a line in the script!

Disembarking was slow and we sat in the car for about 50 mins after being called down and eventually passed immigration, yes we did get a stamp in our passports, just over an hour after arrival.

Travelled back on the tunnel with the Motorhome today and all went very smoothly, just like going out. They asked if the gas was off and that was all. On time departure and rapid exit as usual.