More curious is the
news that British border guards have been banned from X-raying lorries while
searching for illegal immigrants at French ports in case the radiation harms
the stowaways' health. MailOnline quotes
Lucy Moreton from the Immigration Services Union as stating that her members are only permitted to use the
scanners at ports in France when searching for smuggled or illegal goods. The
revelation comes as it emerged that at least 24 of the migrants who made it to
Britain hiding in the back of two lorries earlier this week have already been
given their freedom.
Mrs Moreton told The Times: ‘The French will not allow us to use them for looking for illegals. They only allow us to use scanners to search for contraband, not people.’ Speaking to the newspaper’s reporters, she added that the machines are 'very, very slow to operate, taking about an hour per each vehicle'. She also suggested that increased borders checks in the wake of the Brussels attacks are likely to only last for two weeks because the ‘stepped up’ level cannot be maintained. Asked if there was the political will, she replied: ‘Experience from past would suggest that it isn't. The increased checks at the border last about two weeks, or that's how long they lasted after the Paris attacks.’ Meanwhile, an independent report from the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration found plans to remove foreign criminals and illegal immigrants were cancelled in 40 per cent of cases. That truck carrying stowaways arrived in UK on Wednesday, hours after Home Secretary Theresa May announced toughened border security following the Brussels suicide bombings in which 31 were killed and 270 wounded. Another time, another case of rules improperly interpreted. Regards – S. Sampathkumar
25th Mar 2016.
