Border Control And Customs

[lupestripe]

Going through the passport palava on Sunday evening at Manchester Airport, I noticed that the lady who was directing us to the desks was chewing gum. Now, I'm as liberal as they come but is this really a good first impression to be giving to the numerous foreign nationals who are arriving in our country? It just makes us look uncouth and unprofessional in my opinion.

In addition, customs staff - particularly British ones - are tremendously unfriendly. Granted, their job is both serious and monotonous but a smile and a "Good Evening" wouldn't go amiss. It would be more welcoming for both nationals and visitors to our country and it must always be remembered that the vast majority of people who pass through our borders are doing so legitamately and are not breaking any laws. Sometimes there is an element of guilty until proven innocent when you cross international borders.

And whilst I am on the subject of customs - I have never had as much trouble at an airport than I have had at Copenhagen. My bag had to be scanned three times because I was chosen for a "random check". I think this had more to do with me being a male in his mid-20s than anything else but I was carrying two pairs of pink fluffy handcuffs, a pirate flag that could perhaps have been used as a weapon and my transvestite husky plush. Perhaps these aroused suspicion.

Comments

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

Your plush and handcuffs probably drew attention to you. You need to become what is known as a "grey person." That helps in hostage situations as well. If you don't stand out, you don't get picked. I HATE travelling through customs. Being made to feel like a criminal is never a nice experience.

[schnee.livejournal.com]

Alternatively, you could do the opposite and become a flamboyant eccentric. :) It probably wouldn't help in hostage situations, but let's be honest, how often have you been in those?

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

I think I did the flamboyant eccentric act in Copenhagen but they weren't having any of it. I don't know, it could flummox the hostage takers and they wouldn't know what to do with you. It could provide a distraction - it may even work :)

[schnee.livejournal.com]

Possibly. :P

Mmm, I think what I mean by "flamboyant eccentric" is more than just show, though - you'd really have to be a certain way. Act/talk/dress a certain way and all that, but ultimately, it'd really have to be you. :)

And of course, I wouldn't expect airport security (theater) folks to just give you a free pass through the checkpoints - but I'd expect that if you sufficiently confused them, they'd just stick to the letter of their policies and orders, too.

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

Worth a shot I guess although the rubber glove with a bit of brown on it that was lying in the booth right next to the passport control office gave me second thoughts on playing up...

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

I can't be a grey person at the moment because of my age and gender - I think that is sadly obvious in the current state of affairs. At Customs places I always feel like a criminal even though I have done nothing wrong. I guess part of it is related to the fact that I am no longer allowed to carry deodorant and other toiletries on to a plane.

[shep-shepherd.livejournal.com]

I never get any unwanted attention at customs. Perhaps it's because I come across as so outwardly normal in public? :)

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

Potentially, I don't imagine people batting an eyelid at you as you walked past.