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

[dark-raven-wolf.livejournal.com]

LOL.... My suspicions would be on the husky…… they probably thought you where a drug runner

-----------------------------------------------
*shakes head*..... yes.... that really does help.... I mean I have a chewing problem and even I don't do it in a situation like that
(yes I do it at work…. But as a security guard you can understand why I do it)

-------------------------------------------------
" a smile and a good evening"
it would be nice.... but I'm finding that hard to come by in Civilians let alone people with personaility oriented jobs
it's sad.... but the idea of smiling is something that you need to remind people about

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

There is a microchip in the husky (which is probably now scrambled due to the X-rays) so if it ever gets lost then it can be delivered back to me. I can understand the suspicion but it really is sad when you think teddy bear = drugs mule (or in this case dog). It's a sad sad world.

It was a matter of presentation regarding the gum. It just gave the wrong impression and as this was the first impression that we all got of the UK, I think it is damaging to the reputation of the country.

Agree about people in general - as life gets more pressured, as economic circumstances worsen and as we all rush around (despite having gadgets that supposedly should save us time), I guess manners and politeness have gone out of the window. Coupled with this is an increasingly materialistic and selfish generation and I agree with you. However, these people are still in a service industry and they *should* be welcoming. I don't see why they can't be and still maintain an air of importance.

[dark-raven-wolf.livejournal.com]

getting there faster then is comfortable!.... they probably think they earned their pay check...;)

---------------------------
isn't that what I said.... or am I making up my own words again? ^_^

-------------------------
because it take effort and people yell at them alot
trust me I know how they might feel... but I still manage to smile...
but I'm also insane.... so I don't know if it's a good comparison

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

Chewing gum as a security guard could enhance the appearance though - this was a 20 year old lady chewing gum when she should have been more presentable - that is my main gripe.

Yeah, there are a lot of jobsworths at these places. My poor husky was under suspicion :(

I know too hun, it must be quite a depressing and thankless job, albeit necessary. Still, that's not my fault so why shouldn't they grace me with a smile?