After all, they have to have information in order to abuse it.
They’re getting some.
Anyone departing the UK by land, sea or air will have their trip recorded and stored on a database for a decade.
Passengers leaving every international sea port, station or airport will have to supply detailed personal information as well as their travel plans. So-called “booze crusiers” who cross the Channel for a couple of hours to stock up on wine, beer and cigarettes will be subject to the rules.
In addition, weekend sailors and sea fishermen will be caught by the system if they plan to travel to another country – or face the possibility of criminal prosecution.
The owners of light aircraft will also be brought under the system, known as e-borders, which will eventually track 250 million journeys annually.
Even swimmers attempting to cross the Channel and their support teams will be subject to the rules which will require the provision of travellers’ personal information such as passport and credit card details, home and email addresses and exact travel plans.
Walls are supposed to be used to keep people out, not in.
Did living within a day’s travel by car of one of the most notorious walls in history for nearly five decades teach the people running the UK government nothing?
Or everything?
Back in the 1950s, when I lived there, they were trying to sell the “Chunnel” (Channel Tunnel) idea on the basis of freedom of Brits to travel to France and beyond without the usual international travel annoyances.
Then came the EU, and travel was further eased among member nations.
Now that the Chunnel is a reality, and travel to the Continent is routine, there’s a standard money, etc, what to the bonehead Brits do? Make it more difficult to travel.
You gotta love the Brits, when the chips are down, they do the right thing, but why can’t they do the right thing as a matter of routine?