JF Uncut

The first thing that struck me as I entered the reception area of Eurostar last Thursday was the sea of yellow coated and heavily armed police officers. They were everywhere – probably one hundred, if not more. Then as I slipped off my coat and jacket, placing them on the x-ray machine with all of my luggage, keys, mobile phone etc and walked through the “detection frame” realisation hit me- this was not my usual experience, because this was not my usual route.

For more than five years, I have travelled the Newhaven-Dieppe route, first with Transmanche Ferries and lately with LDL (Louis Dreyfus Lines) who bought out Transmanche a couple of years ago.

I have always travelled as a foot passenger and in all that time, until very recently –  nobody has checked my luggage, asked me if I am carrying anything harmful or dangerous, subjected any of my belongings to x-ray scrutiny – in fact I can assure you that security is virtually non-existent – what a stark contrast to my experience last week!

My question is this: Why, when millions, if not hundreds of millions of pounds have been spent post- 9/11, on upgrading Britain’s security, is the country still blatantly exposed by French incompetence and negligence?

Let me describe the experience of travelling both ways.

When I travel from Dieppe, I collect my ticket – this can often take a considerable amount of time, because invariably, the system is down. Then, as a foot passenger, I am expected to wait in a cafeteria area, until a bus arrives to take me across the car and freight loading area, to the ferry. My entire luggage is with me – no questions, no security, and no x-ray machines – no responsibility

This passage of time is the most frustrating of the entire journey, because there is never a set procedure. Typically we have to wait until all the vehicles are loaded, and the ninety minutes that we are asked to arrive prior to departure, can seem like three hours.

When the bus finally arrives, we load our cases on a cart, which is towed by a small tractor and follows the bus. Unfortunately, once aboard the bus, we do not immediately proceed to the boat, because at that point, we need to have our passports inspected by the Police Des Douanes – a sort of cross between police and customs officers and it is not unknown to have to wait up to half an hour for them to pitch up.

Even if there are only two or three foot passengers, they still arrive mob-handed, often one officer for every passenger – this goes some way to explaining why France has such low unemployment.

That’s it – the full extent of French security and scrutiny.

Once we arrive at Newhaven, we are loaded onto another bus, which takes us to the terminal building and when our cases arrive on the same cart and tractor, we pass through a passport check – just one guy – and we are off.

And if you think that things must be more rigorous at the British end, you are sadly mistaken. The routine is almost identical, but now they do have a couple of people –  I am convinced they are distantly related to the Adams family – who occasionally ask if they can have a look in your hand-luggage They also get you to sign a form, which confirms that you have been asked if you are smuggling anything illegal.

This last act suggests that all hardened criminals, drug runners and signed up members of Al Qaeda, are scrupulously honest, when it comes to admitting that they are concealing five kilos of cocaine, a Kalashnikov or enough semtex to blow up the ferry.

I have no idea how many people have identified and abused this gaping hole in Britain’s rearguard – the thought is horrifying in itself.

Let’s just hope that enough of the right people read this and take the right action.

Tomorrow: More JF Uncut

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