Security checks at ports

[CathR]

Still summoning up the courage to venture across the channel, so not had this issue yet. If I do get there will have to remember to leave plenty of time for gas off checks. With my VW T5 you have to virtually dismantle the van to get at the gas bottle locker.

 

[The Coops]

Every time ! However do not kick off about it, we were patiently letting the customs guys do their bit and a couple behind us kicked off, the complaint was "every time we cross we get pulled its not fair you let all those through and pick on us just because we ride a motorcycle" We did not see them again on the crossing, they were lead off for a more "through" search. If you have nothing to hide just let them do their job, if you have a big friendly dog as well it makes their day as something likes them!

 

[gus-lopez]

In all my crossings, mainly on the tunnel, they have never even come inside the motorhome. Maybe you look a bit too dodgy ????

Never seen anyone in a motorhome/caravan/van who isn't searched? In fact just thinking about it I've never even seen a car that isn't stopped & roof boxes boot & inside all checked.

 

[Mr Colpot]

We popped over for a day trip to Auchan yesterday and on the way back the UK Border guy was perplexed as to why we would take a "campervan" on a day trip. My answer of why wouldn't I - I have everything I need with me - toilet/tea/coffee/food/comfy lounge didn't convince him and he decided to search the van. He checked the bathroom and lifted the beds and took a glance at the drop down bed but decided not to lower it as the Boss was sat underneath it. I showed him the outside access to under the beds and he looked in one and underneath the van. I got a brownie point for saying I had already checked underneath before we left Auchan and he said well done. He asked if we had bought any tobacco and was happy with a verbal answer of no we don't smoke. He didn't query the nigh on 100 litres of wine though so happy days.

I am happy to be searched every time if it discourages anyone from hitching a lift back without me knowing. In all our time crossing back and forth this was only the second time we have been checked.

 

[SuperMike]

Once a few years ago we were stopped and they asked to look inside. Sure says I and they asked if there was anything I wanted to tell them about. Yes say I, “ locked up in the wardrobe is a rifle.“ that got him a bit excited, well, he did ask. Anyway, I showed him my original declaration, letter from Jersey Police saying I could bring it in, license and invitation from he Jersey rifle club to attend a competition. He wanted to take it away for the trip, but I was not having that, god knows where it would be put, who would handle it, how it would be handled and generally treated. The stock alone cost me a lot of money and it is oiled regularly and is a stunning piece of work. In the end he just took away the bolt which I did get back upon arrival, but that is not so easy to damage, anyway I had a spare.

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[Jo662]

I’ve been using the tunnel for over 10 years now and have never had any border staff look inside our Motorhome. The only port I have had the Motorhome checked inside was at Liverpool when catching
the ferry to the Isle of Man!

 

[ctc]

Searched by a beautiful girl soldier, armed, at the tunnel, I offered every possible locker and double floor storage but it was over far too quickly.

 

[HarryML]

Anyone ever been stopped at a European border other than UK?

Yes

 

[Brains]

Been searched lots of times at the channel, both inbound and outbound.
In once case (inbound, Southampton) Customs greeted me by name, which is never a good start. .....

I've also been searched on a number of occasions at inter-European boarders, including three times many miles inside the French border.

 

[Dorwyn]

Nowadays we use the tunnel and on recent trips we have commented on the distinct lack of security, but have often had them check the gas (not the last few times though). This latest few trips they took my word it was closed, both ways. A previous time, when it was inside a locker, I explained to the very lovely girl that it was difficult to tell because you couldn't see the tap, but she said she wanted to look anyway. I opened the locker, she dipped her head without really looking and said with a shy smile "OK". I suspect it was for the benefit of a video camera. Definitely less security checks on the tunnel than ferries. One time at Portsmouth going to Santander, the embarrassed security girl said it was her first check, and didn't know what she was looking for! No training, then.

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[Charente16]

As 'DBK' at the Montgenevre Pass between Italy and France last week. They have a nice warm hut in the middle of the road, so a permanent Check Point manned by Gendarmes, not the Frontier Police.

Driving a french registered vehicle but still required to show all vehicle and personal documents, also asked why we were were using that route as opposed to the autoroute. Where were we coming from etc.,

Robert

 

[maison]

When we first bought our property in France we travelled across with our car groaning at the seams with everything we were taking. I had squeezed cushions in while my wife slammed the door on them!

At Dover we were pulled in by security/customs who asked if we had any knives or sharp objects in the car. My wife said “yes, we have a complete kitchen full in here but if you want to see them we will have to empty everything out.”

Looking at the amount of “stuff” in the car the security/customs officer just smiled and waved us through.

 

[DL42846]

I've recently completed a two week trip in the UK from France. Calais /Dover crossing. other than just going through passport control no other checks. I could have taken a van load of immigrants to the UK, not that I would want too. The south of England is too busy as it is.

 

[B-well]

Whole vehicle X-rays have been in use in the UK for over 20, used by HMRC. In the UK they used to take the driver out of the vehicle but in the US they stayed in (it was an American device). I can only presume the machines are now much better.

All working okay just passed through

 

[Mr porky]

Coming back to the uk from Bilbao all motorhomes had to open the lockers and the Spanish guard searched inside all the motorhomes. When we arrived in the uk same process from the British.

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[PeteH]

Even before 9-11, we used to ocasionally get pulled over in France, Bored Duane officers just wanting to see what the inside of an American R-V looked like!. Quick look in the bathroom, was pretty much all of it! Offered to pull the slide out once, but they didn't want to know!. Best one, though, was the time we got to Calais early in the Morning, UK team on the plot, asked to look in the R-V and lockers etc; Under the Rear bed, Lifed the lid to show the engine!. The lady officer obviously in charge, said to one have you checked the roof!!. No, being the reply, I burst out laughing, she looked at me, and I explained I had been doing (well) in excess of 60MPH coming down an incline on the way in. Her reply was, "it has been tried".!!

 

[Brains]

Even before 9-11, we used to ocasionally get pulled over in France, Bored Duane officers just wanting to see what the inside of an American R-V looked like!. Quick look in the bathroom, was pretty much all of it! Offered to pull the slide out once, but they didn't want to know!. Best one, though, was the time we got to Calais early in the Morning, UK team on the plot, asked to look in the R-V and lockers etc; Under the Rear bed, Lifed the lid to show the engine!. The lady officer obviously in charge, said to one have you checked the roof!!. No, being the reply, I burst out laughing, she looked at me, and I explained I had been doing (well) in excess of 60MPH coming down an incline on the way in. Her reply was, "it has been tried".!!

I've heard first hand of this happening at the Igoumentsa/Brindisi ferry crossing from someone that uses that crossing every year driving back from Greece to the UK.

The solution is to use tape to attach brambles and hawthorn to your rear ladder and any other access.

Secateurs, gardening gloves and masking tape are packed as standard kit for exactly that purpose every summer.

 

[Camping Gaza]

Everytime I come back from France I get searched, they look under the sofas and in the bathroom. Fair play to them as they are lookig for stowaways. Normally a quick look at the passport and a wave goodbye.

However 4 days ago coming back from France it took about 10 mins with the first french passport check, she was typing away at the computer, opening and closing her little hatch, and writing notes in a book. Questions included do you speak french? Where have you been? where are you going? Do you have the vans documents? What is the address you stayed in France. Do you have confirmation of your address in London. i showed her my driving licence, and she made notes.

asked her is there a problem, and she just said, just confirming your identity.

Brexit to come question next possibly?...... How may days have you been in France? 40 I said as she typed away feeding it into the computer

Off I went to the UK border checks. He scanned my passport, and looked at every page in it and the questions were, where are you going in England? Next Question was....

How may days have you been in France? Brexit again?????

Just after that window I get pulled over again, man with machine gun wants entry to the van, looks under sofas and in the bathroom, he was english and we had a quick chat, Just looking for stowaways he said, No problem, I said, it's great your doing the checks cheers!

Off to the DFDS check in. She got me on a boat just leaving and said, you have to be quick as it was sailing in 10 mins.

French customs stopped me... Do you have your documents? and here's the weird one... do you have any cigarettes or alcohol? Never been asked that EVER! No I said. we need to search you please park over there..... WHAT?

I said to him, the booking lady said I have to be quick to get the boat, The customs guy said is it the 11.00? yes I said. He poked his head in the drivers side window a had a look and said OK off you go.

I made the boat but was in a really depressed mood after all that of what may be coming after brexit.

Maybe I need to get a better passport picture... perhaps a smarter shirt and tie?

 

[Sunlovers]

We were inspected at St.Malo last month. Boarded us, peered into the bathroom, looked in the wardrobe, but didn't want to lift the bed to peek underneath, which is large enough to carry at least four persons spooning it together! Asked if we'd been approached by anyone to give them a lift and then waved us on our merry way. I know it has to be done, but why not do it with some consistency?

 

[2x2camper]

It's also annoying when they do not look in the places you could easily hide people.

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[Grianan]

Searched both ways on Zeebrugge Hull
Route in August ... not at all on Tunnel coming into France. Heading back today and expecting checks after the lorry incident.

 

[chocky]

Taking the ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao we have twice been selected on the way out at Portsmouth for security checks. This is the ferry company's security rather than Customs or Border Force, I believe. They take you into a portakabin where you are subjected to an airport-style check, emptying your pockets into a tray and passing through a metal detector.

On the first occasion the security bloke asked me if I was carrying a knife. I simply replied 'No'. On the second occasion I was in a slightly more obstreperous mood:

Security: Are you carrying a knife?
Me: Yes
Security: [looks very perturbed]
Me: It's a motorhome with a fully equipped kitchen including a selection of razor-sharp chef's knives.
Security: [looks a bit baffled and hesitates]... well, err, I don't mean that. Have you got any on your person?

I pass through the metal detectors without issue.

So, all a bit pointless really, given that I then return to may van full of knives. They did search the van but only seemed to be looking for big things.

Same thing happened to us twice. Asked who they might be looking for. Reply. Illegal immigrants. Oh Please!! We were going out of the country!

 

[Grianan]

Searched both ways on Zeebrugge Hull
Route in August ... not at all on Tunnel coming into France. Heading back today and expecting checks after the lorry incident.

And, despite very visible presence of army with guns and the evacuation of the terminal for ‘security reasons’ we weren’t searched and our gas wasn’t checked.