Body search at Harwich ferry terminal?

[SnowyOwl]

Hi everyone,
Last Saturday morning i got on the Stena ferry at Harwich for the Hook of Holland.
I am a female travelling alone in my motorhome.
Two customs officials, one male and the other a middle aged short blond woman had a quick look around the external and internal of the vehicle. No draws or lockers were inspected. Yet the woman gave me a body search. Why? Surely the motorhome should have been thoroughly searched first and then body search me if there was any concern.
I believe the body search was unnecessary. Has anyone had this experience? Is it the norm?

 

[SnowyOwl]

Never understand why people worry about being searched, glad they’re doing their job. We seem to get stopped and searched quite regularly. We have a PVC, we joke that it’s because it’s small so they’re just making up the numbers.

I do remember the first time we flew into Cyprus many years ago and I was invited into a cubicle to be searched, I was a bit worried but fortunately my cavities were not searched. She was most unattractive and very glum

I guess I just don't like a complete stranger frisky me when I feel that should also search the motorhome thoroughly first.

 

[Kybod]

About 13 years ago having been in Spain for six weeks and travelling in my car, I decided to get the Zeebrugge to Hull ferry home as it was about a 40 minutes drive home.
When the ferry docked, l was pulled over into another lane with other vehicles and waited and waited.
When it was my turn, I was asked to leave my car and was patted down. The customs officers then proceeded to near on dismantle my car.
Camera scopes was put into each door cavity, the rear seat was removed etc.
I was talking to a police officer who had been seconded to the customs for training purposes and he didn't really didn't have a good word to say about them and was apologetic.
I eventually got away after three hours, I put it down to experience and the fact that I had a good tan and hadn't shaven for three days, so probably looked like Pablo Escobar.
I've never sailed into Hull again.
Mike

 

[Just smiffy]

We would all moan if they didn’t do their job properly…

 

[TinaLes]

Many years ago standing in a security check queue at Heathrow Airport, before wands were in use, boarding a flight to New York, this great big tall American, wearing a Beige Stetson Hat was being frisked by a nice blond security girl.
He was asked to raise his arms etc, but when she rubbed her hands up & down his inside leg, he said to her in a loud voice......Rub that any harder girlie & you will make it sick!
The whole queue heard it, burst out laughing and the Blonde security girl, smiled back blushingly.
Got to love the Yanks at times eh!.
LES

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[SnowyOwl]

I really appreciate all these responses. Thank you.

 

[seasideBill]

Thank you all for your responses. If i get searched again, I may question why.
As an add on, when i used the eurotunnel with my motorhome for the first time last September, the security in Folkstone , asked me when I bought it and if it was mine!
I am sorry for the disbelievers, but I suspect I am targeted partly because I am a female pensioner traveling alone in a large newish motorhome.
C'est la vie

I guess you don’t fit the stereotype so maybe not a great surprise? I wouldn’t worry about it, let them do their job, after all it’s ultimately about our collective security. They know things I don’t so if they think a few moments frisking folks is worthwhile I’m ok with that.

 

[SnowyOwl]

I guess you don’t fit the stereotype so maybe not a great surprise? I wouldn’t worry about it, let them do their job, after all it’s ultimately about our collective security. They know things I don’t so if they think a few moments frisking folks is worthwhile I’m ok with that.

Thank seasideBill. I agree with you.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

I broke out in a sweat years ago when landing in America, we were off on a cruise and it was just before Christmas so very busy.
Just come through border control and a Border control chap came up and asked me to escort him to a room Had Mrs CC plus the 2 kids and Mum & Dad with me but they were not let in

They started quizzing me about where I lived and worked then went all through my paperwork, after a while they said you are free to go as apparently I had the same name and fitted a similar description to a chap on there watch list

I thought I was going to walk out like John Wayne when I first went in so very relieved to be going out walking normal

 

[GAVLAD]

I could understand anyone being frisked coming inbound and especially from Amsterdam/Hook but not going out - what are we going to smuggle out? Maybe they were worried that you'd have an illegal immigrant on you - one who's wanting better social hand outs than what we give, or maybe they were worried that you was packing Wensleydale and the rubber cheese eaters would be converted?
Think of it this way, like the hair shampoo, you must be worth it.

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[JnJ]

My husband and son go abroad together on rugby trips with no problem. When I go with them I am always frisked, I have even been asked to remove my socks so they could look at the soles of my feet.
Once when flying out of Gatwick to Rome, I was frisked, my hand luggage tipped out and thoroughly searched and had my hands swabbed while they got hardly a glance. When we were in departure lounge the fire alarm went off and we had to evacuate the building. Came back in and had to go through security again and exactly same thing happened to me again frisked, bag tipped out and hands swabbed! I obviously look shifty!

 

[Just smiffy]

My husband and son go abroad together on rugby trips with no problem. When I go with them I am always frisked, I have even been asked to remove my socks so they could look at the soles of my feet.
Once when flying out of Gatwick to Rome, I was frisked, my hand luggage tipped out and thoroughly searched and had my hands swabbed while they got hardly a glance. When we were in departure lounge the fire alarm went off and we had to evacuate the building. Came back in and had to go through security again and exactly same thing happened to me again frisked, bag tipped out and hands swabbed! I obviously look shifty!

You sound shifty too….

 

[SnowyOwl]

I broke out in a sweat years ago when landing in America, we were off on a cruise and it was just before Christmas so very busy.
Just come through border control and a Border control chap came up and asked me to escort him to a room Had Mrs CC plus the 2 kids and Mum & Dad with me but they were not let in

They started quizzing me about where I lived and worked then went all through my paperwork, after a while they said you are free to go as apparently I had the same name and fitted a similar description to a chap on there watch list

I thought I was going to walk out like John Wayne when I first went in so very relieved to be going out walking normal

Poor you, scary Glad it turned out o.k.

 

[SnowyOwl]

My husband and son go abroad together on rugby trips with no problem. When I go with them I am always frisked, I have even been asked to remove my socks so they could look at the soles of my feet.
Once when flying out of Gatwick to Rome, I was frisked, my hand luggage tipped out and thoroughly searched and had my hands swabbed while they got hardly a glance. When we were in departure lounge the fire alarm went off and we had to evacuate the building. Came back in and had to go through security again and exactly same thing happened to me again frisked, bag tipped out and hands swabbed! I obviously look shifty!

I consider myself lucky.

 

[SnowyOwl]

I could understand anyone being frisked coming inbound and especially from Amsterdam/Hook but not going out - what are we going to smuggle out? Maybe they were worried that you'd have an illegal immigrant on you - one who's wanting better social hand outs than what we give, or maybe they were worried that you was packing Wensleydale and the rubber cheese eaters would be converted?
Think of it this way, like the hair shampoo, you must be worth it.

Better make sure I keep the Gouda and Edam visible on my return to Harwich

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[Go_buddy_go_]

I broke out in a sweat years ago when landing in America, we were off on a cruise and it was just before Christmas so very busy.
Just come through border control and a Border control chap came up and asked me to escort him to a room Had Mrs CC plus the 2 kids and Mum & Dad with me but they were not let in

They started quizzing me about where I lived and worked then went all through my paperwork, after a while they said you are free to go as apparently I had the same name and fitted a similar description to a chap on there watch list

I thought I was going to walk out like John Wayne when I first went in so very relieved to be going out walking normal

Same thing happened to my BIL when we went to Mexico ….he now won’t ever go back incase it happens again!

 

[Odd-no-more]

Years ago I came into Dover at night I was driving an Alpha sports car which was fully loaded. I was taken to a search area and the a thorough search started, bit halfway through searching the boot the customs officer stopped and said it's ok to go. I was more annoyed that he didn't fully search than that I was searched at all. I thought surely if I was smuggling I would have hidden it at the bottom.