As the national border system fails, there is chaos at UK airports.
Chaos
Electronic gates at British airports were affected by a countrywide border system malfunction, which caused havoc for travellers and anyone entering the country.
Images posted online showed lengthy lines forming at busy airports, with many people trying to travel before a Monday public holiday and schools also out for half-term.
Due to the failure, passports must be manually examined rather than automatically.
Travellers who were angry with the situation complained on social media that they had to wait in queue for many hours just to have their passports inspected.
A representative for the Home Office told CNN on Saturday: “We are aware of a nationwide border system issue affecting arrivals into the UK.”
The spokesman said, “We are working to address the issue as soon as possible and are coordinating with port operators and airlines to minimise disruption for travellers.”
The eGates, which are run by Border Force, are experiencing a national problem, according to a representative for London Heathrow Airport.
“This problem is not limited to Heathrow; it affects many ports of entry. Our teams are collaborating closely with Border Force to find a swift solution to the issue, and we have extra coworkers on hand to manage the wait and ensure passenger welfare.
According to Lucy Morton of the Immigration Services Union, who spoke to BBC Radio 4, 60% to 80% of passengers use e-gates, depending on the airport.
Since a person, not a machine, would be able to observe each and every arriving passenger, she said that there will be no negative effects on national security.
“But it will create queues, and that creates a whole other set of issues. As people grow irritated, they vent their frustration on the personnel. The staff members experience verbal and even physical harassment, including being struck. This will all begin to accumulate during the day.
