Why is UK customs always empty?
Discussion
10 flights in the past 12 months and not once has there been anyone manning the 'Nothing to declare' channel in the airport. Does this mean they think everyone is honest? I would have thought at least having a visible presence would act as a deterent? Or is the baggage screening so awesome that people are just no longer required? To me it seems you can put anything in your luggage and there is no chance of getting pulled at arrivals.
It's "intelligence led" now. They check the passenger lists for known dodgy geezers (or people coming from dodgy countries), who left the country without luggage and are coming back with luggage, who were only out of the country for a few hours, etc. etc. etc. Makes it much easier for casual blaggers though. 
Brother D said:
10 flights in the past 12 months and not once has there been anyone manning the 'Nothing to declare' channel in the airport. Does this mean they think everyone is honest? I would have thought at least having a visible presence would act as a deterent? Or is the baggage screening so awesome that people are just no longer required? To me it seems you can put anything in your luggage and there is no chance of getting pulled at arrivals.
If only there was some way of viewing people remotely, perhaps at a central location 
When I came through Heathrow last week there was a group of 4 customs staff loitering by the entrance to the customs area from the baggage collection zone. A was just behind a lady in traditional african clothing pushing a trolley with 4 HUGE suitcases on. They followed her into the 'Nothing to Declare' lane and stopped her. As I passed I overheard her being asked "how long are you planning on staying in the UK?", so there is still an element of the Eyeball MarkI being used to select people for inspection.
I've always assumed that they know the flights that there is the most risk on, and the times I arrive (mostly from the US) there are no other flights of interest, and the number of people importing drugs (or weapons?) from the US is probably so low that they don't bother to randomly search. I imagine (hope?) there is somebody behind the mirrored glass keeping an eye for somebody obviously dodgh though, or people hanging around in the baggage claim sweating.
Do they ever enforce the general 'shopping' limits? e.g. I believe £345 is the tax free limit from outside of the EU.
We came back from New York on December 23rd and presumably people were loaded up with gifts, but I've never known them check that sort of thing. I guess it's time consuming, digging through luggage, checking receipts etc. We've always been very careful and I'd never risk buying something like a $1000 camera lens (if I was pulled up for it the 20% tax would wipe out most of the benefit), but very few people seem bothered.
We came back from New York on December 23rd and presumably people were loaded up with gifts, but I've never known them check that sort of thing. I guess it's time consuming, digging through luggage, checking receipts etc. We've always been very careful and I'd never risk buying something like a $1000 camera lens (if I was pulled up for it the 20% tax would wipe out most of the benefit), but very few people seem bothered.
Interestingly enough I got pulled yesterday on my way back from Dubai. I think it was the duty free bag I was carrying which he thought was full of cigarettes. He had a good root through all my bags though and asked a few questions.
Couldn't work out if I had been singled out at random or targeted. Been in and out of the country a fair but recently and the passport inspector gave me a grilling a couple of times ago. Nice to think someone is paying a bit of attention and it not a problem if you have nothing to hide.
Couldn't work out if I had been singled out at random or targeted. Been in and out of the country a fair but recently and the passport inspector gave me a grilling a couple of times ago. Nice to think someone is paying a bit of attention and it not a problem if you have nothing to hide.
I got pulled by customs when returning from a trip to Nassau with my girlfriend. We were the only 2 to get questioned, I obviously have a shaddy aura about me as I was also searched at Miami airport on the same trip, and my luggage was cracked open once I had checked in.
Got the usual questions, where have you been, have you got any alcohol, cigarettes or fresh food? Yes, 1 litre of rum, one litre of vodka, 1 big pack for OH's brother, 2 tins of japaeno and cheese dip for my father. They were fine with the alcohol and cigarettes, but the cheese dip got me a warning. I'd assumed it was OK as it was tinned. They still let me keep the stuff but I was told that next time it would be confiscated. All in, a pleasant experience.
My Miami experience wasn't quite as friendly, but was more humorous. We got to the metal detectors at the airport, they have 2 regular walk through detectors and 1 full body scanner. Person A would go through the full scanner and the staff would keep feeding people through the regular detectors until the full body scanner was free, then the next person would go through it.
Ther chap infront of me was directed towards the full body scanner so I turned to head towards the regular detector. I was then instructed very loudly to "STAY WHERE YOU ARE, SIR!". Apparently I was going to have a full body scan. After a minute or 2 I was told to enter the machine. I removed my watch, phone, shoes and belt (which was holding up my rather baggy shorts) and stepped in, raised my hands and watched the machine scan me. Once done I turned to me left and exited, before being shouted at by the same member of staff - "GET BACK IN, YOU WEREN'T STANDING PROPERLY. WE ARE GOING TO SCAN YOU AGAIN!". In I get - "PUT YOUR LEGS FURTHER APART!" - I did so, and felt my shorts drop halfway down my legs. I had just exposed myself to half of Miami airport.
Once the scan was over I stepped out expecting to get my bits and rejoin my girlfriend. I was wrong. I was then asked to 'Slowly reach into my back pockets and remove the items within, very carefully'. I removed the piece of paper with our hotel bill on it. The member of staff looked relieved.
Next up, I was led away from the crowd and had my hands swabbed for chemical explosives - 'It's a test we want you to fail, sir'. Finally I got my bits back and went on my way. My girlfriend was laughing so hard she had tears running down her cheeks (I'm apparently the most inoffensive, meek person she's ever met).
Got the usual questions, where have you been, have you got any alcohol, cigarettes or fresh food? Yes, 1 litre of rum, one litre of vodka, 1 big pack for OH's brother, 2 tins of japaeno and cheese dip for my father. They were fine with the alcohol and cigarettes, but the cheese dip got me a warning. I'd assumed it was OK as it was tinned. They still let me keep the stuff but I was told that next time it would be confiscated. All in, a pleasant experience.
My Miami experience wasn't quite as friendly, but was more humorous. We got to the metal detectors at the airport, they have 2 regular walk through detectors and 1 full body scanner. Person A would go through the full scanner and the staff would keep feeding people through the regular detectors until the full body scanner was free, then the next person would go through it.
Ther chap infront of me was directed towards the full body scanner so I turned to head towards the regular detector. I was then instructed very loudly to "STAY WHERE YOU ARE, SIR!". Apparently I was going to have a full body scan. After a minute or 2 I was told to enter the machine. I removed my watch, phone, shoes and belt (which was holding up my rather baggy shorts) and stepped in, raised my hands and watched the machine scan me. Once done I turned to me left and exited, before being shouted at by the same member of staff - "GET BACK IN, YOU WEREN'T STANDING PROPERLY. WE ARE GOING TO SCAN YOU AGAIN!". In I get - "PUT YOUR LEGS FURTHER APART!" - I did so, and felt my shorts drop halfway down my legs. I had just exposed myself to half of Miami airport.
Once the scan was over I stepped out expecting to get my bits and rejoin my girlfriend. I was wrong. I was then asked to 'Slowly reach into my back pockets and remove the items within, very carefully'. I removed the piece of paper with our hotel bill on it. The member of staff looked relieved.
Next up, I was led away from the crowd and had my hands swabbed for chemical explosives - 'It's a test we want you to fail, sir'. Finally I got my bits back and went on my way. My girlfriend was laughing so hard she had tears running down her cheeks (I'm apparently the most inoffensive, meek person she's ever met).
I got pulled over at Heathrow T4 about 11am on Saturday when returning from New York. There were loads of customs officials in there, first time I've seen that many. I made it past most of them but got pulled by the last one - I suspect because I was very hungover and had two bags (both because I was in business which is a rare treat!). I got asked where I'd been, how long I'd been there, if I had and alcohol or tobacco in my cases and whether I'd done any other shopping over there. Few polite responses and I was on my way within a minute. Treated with great courtesy I might add.
davepoth said:
It's "intelligence led" now.
Last time I got pulled it was from a FRA > BHX flight. They only pulled passengers who had transferred at FRA from S American countries, there was about a dozen in the operation. Mk 1 eyeball to pick targets at the baggage carousel, with nods, winks and pointy fingers, about as subtle, amateurish and covert as a flying house brick, quite amusing to a pro really.
Then each passenger targeted got questioned about the importation of firearms and drugs. I was questioned for 20 seconds max, told to proceed once id'd, others not quite so fortunate.
StevieBee said:
Am I the only one who walks through the Nothing to Declare lane, totally clean and innocent of anything, yet still feeling oddly guilty about something?
No! I don't know why but I always sort of look down and hurry when there are people around...perhaps why I got pulled the other day!! No idea why I do feel guilty though.Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff