Plymouth Security Checks
In a reply to a recent post I commented on seeing a mobile X-ray scanner at Millbay docks checking trucks arriving.
Last week on departure we were stopped and questioned. Then one person checked underneath car and van and another the inside of the van.
I have been stopped at Calais on way home before and sometimes asked questions but not had this on the way out before.
Comments
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I think this is more related to the fact that their may be attempts at terrorist attack on a ferry, which given recent events, is perhaps more possible. After all, airline security was hugely increased, but ferries and Eutotunnel are still very vulnerable. It's something we all ought to be more vigilant about, but not worry if our journey time is extended because of extra security attacks.
I wonder, given the current raised security level at critical, that over the next few weeks this post could become a sticky so that people report their own experiences at the various ports both here and in Europe. It may help others to better estimate journey times, and required arrival times at the ports.
Am making this Thread a Sticky while the Current Critical Security Lels are in existence.
DianneT
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We had this experience when travelling Portsmouth to Caen 8 or 9 years ago. Even owning cupboards etc in our motorhome. Not every vehicle was checked too long ago to remember whether just caravans and motorhomes but I think not.. Happy to have as much searching done as necessary to try to keep us safe.
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Advice from Le Shuttle
Important travel advice May 2017
Please be aware that reinforced security checks are in place on our Folkestone and Calais Terminals. If travelling over the busy Half Term holiday period, please ensure that you follow advice to check in on time; that’s no later than 30 minutes and no earlier than 2 hours prior to your booked departure time.
It’s really important to have all passports and ID cards to hand, open at the photo page until you have cleared all Border Controls.
As the weather is predicted to be hot, please ensure that you have adequate provisions of water for both the humans and animals in your travelling party.
A20 Dover Roadworks
Roadworks in place on A20 Dover from 15th May for 11 weeks. These works are not close to our Folkestone Terminal so will not affect your journey to us. If you are travelling with us from the M2 direction, you may wish to consult the Highways England website at
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/highways-england
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The 'Sticky Monster' has struck again.
Due to the current situation are we now to have a Sticky for security at each UK port???????????????????
Don't people know that security has been uprated at all the obvious places or are we all considered to be simply stupid by the club
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If you read my post (second one) then the reason I suggested making it a sticky was so that people could report, in person, on their experiences at the various ports - to allow others using those ports to know 'from the horses mouth' how those increased security measures impact on times to pass through security, allowing them to make a judgement about their journey times to allow for this extra security.
Yes, we're all aware that there will be increased security, but is this taking the form of a cursory glance as you drive past at 10 mph - or as has been reported on another forum, that each car was pulled into a shed for a complete search? There would be a huge impact on times, between those two options, and surely you'd want to know exactly what to expect rather than just 'increased security'.
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We used to have one....
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Can a moderator please change the title of this thread?
Most comments have nothing to do with Plymouth, but it's only people travelling from Plymouth who will read it, yet it seems to apply more to the tunnel and to other ports.
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Here are two replies from a forum where people give helpful information for others:
1. The 1 hour delay this afternoon at Eurotunnel turned out to be 3 hrs. No special security apart from two cops with automatic weapons and security guys looked under bonnet and in tail gate. An extra 30 secs from usual and only occasional cars checked. I'd say they overbooked. But better than the BA Carry on yesterday.
Still I got apology by SMS
2. I will be taking 39 students on a school trip to Germany after the half term break. We have allowed one hour from the arrival at Dover to departure on the 0640 ferry to Calais. I hope we have allowed enough time. This is on a Monday morning. I have been told by the Travel company that all the students will have to get off at Dover for passport checks. They only used to check when we were coming back at Calais.
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Don't get me wrong security is a very good idea. Last year I had nine Police officers looking inside my unit, and a dog looking for drugs. They even radioed their officer to come and have a look. That was Caen, and being the lead vehicle at the queue, everyone else wondered if I was some kind of criminal. The joys of towing a teardrop. Ps, the dog only found a wine gum, he was cute
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Returning to Plymouth last night from Roscoff there seemed very little difference from last year. Looked inside the bonnet of the car as well as the gas locker, I am not sure they got into the bathroom though! 4 of them in total.
One difference was a yellow security sticker and I would recommend removing this at the earliest opportunity! Mine got wet and I still have gummy marks to get off at some point! No size to it but lots of sticky!
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I don't think the 'Sticky Monster' has the ability to remove them....only install them when the fancy takes....which obviously is on a very regular basis.
However I think the forum manager has it all in hand after running a big survey about 6 weeks ago
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We always travel from Plymouth have done for the last 4 years with our Caravan , this time we are in a Motorhome we expect we might get searched if so its not a problem better be safe than sorry .
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Given recent circumstances I think that everyone should be prepared for enhanced security checks at all departure/arrival ports and as such is not a unique situation that demands this to be a sticky thread. I will therefore remove the sticky but ask any contributors who experience anything out of the ordinary as a result of this increased security please feel free to post your experiences in the Overseas Section.
Thanks
David
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Hi David, I have now caught up with the comments made re my post and find some of them disappointing but not surprising.
My post was made, as clearly stated, in response to others that suggested that security checks were lesser at the Western ports and followed on from witnessing the use of the Border Force mobile scanner at Plymouth.
The other points that I would make are that my post was made before the recent tragic events in Manchester and London, I made no comment in regard to it being a good or bad thing and that, for us as regular Plymouth travellers, this was 'out of the ordinary'.
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