UK to scrap passenger landing cards - BBC News

All landing cards for international passengers arriving in the UK will be scrapped from Monday.

Landing cards are currently filled in by passengers arriving by air or sea from outside the European Economic Area.

Border Force director general Paul Lincoln, in a letter to staff, said it would "help meet the challenge of growing passenger numbers".

But unions warned it risked weakening immigration controls.

Around 16 million landing cards are issued every year and they are used to record what is said to border staff on arrival, as well as the reasons for travel and conditions of entry.

The Home Office had agreed to scrap them for seven countries, including the US and Australia, from June, but has now decided to go further.

'Only record'

A document from officials to Border Force staff, seen by the BBC, says much of the data collected by paper landing cards will soon be available digitally.

It adds that the withdrawal of the cards will enable staff to "focus more on your interaction with passengers".

But Immigration Service Union general secretary, Lucy Moreton, accused the Home Office of "ignoring" warnings from experienced staff as to the longer-term impact of getting rid of landing cards.

She said that the union had been assured that scrapping them would not happen until new technology was in place to record international arrivals.

"Although in most cases landing cards are retained for purely statistical reasons they do contain the only record of what was said to an officer on arrival," she said.

In his letter, Mr Lincoln said he recognised concerns about the scheme.

But he added: "These changes will enable frontline officers to focus their skills and time on border security issues and on cohorts who present the greatest risk of immigration abuse."

The decision to scrap landing cards comes after the government announced it was extending the use of e-gates at UK borders to citizens of the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Singapore and South Korea.

Currently the gates, which scan e-passports, are reserved for European Economic Area citizens.

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https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48297695

2019-05-17 07:14:34Z
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UK to scrap passenger landing cards - BBC News

All landing cards for international passengers arriving in the UK will be scrapped from Monday.

Landing cards are currently filled in by passengers arriving by air or sea from outside the European Economic Area.

Border Force director general Paul Lincoln, in a letter to staff, said it would "help meet the challenge of growing passenger numbers".

But unions warned it risked weakening immigration controls.

Around 16 million landing cards are issued every year and they are used to record what is said to border staff on arrival, as well as the reasons for travel and conditions of entry.

The Home Office had agreed to scrap them for seven countries, including the US and Australia, from June, but has now decided to go further.

'Only record'

A document from officials to Border Force staff, seen by the BBC, says much of the data collected by paper landing cards will soon be available digitally.

It adds that the withdrawal of the cards will enable staff to "focus more on your interaction with passengers".

But Immigration Service Union general secretary, Lucy Moreton, accused the Home Office of "ignoring" warnings from experienced staff as to the longer-term impact of getting rid of landing cards.

She said that the union had been assured that scrapping them would not happen until new technology was in place to record international arrivals.

"Although in most cases landing cards are retained for purely statistical reasons they do contain the only record of what was said to an officer on arrival," she said.

In his letter, Mr Lincoln said he recognised concerns about the scheme.

But he added: "These changes will enable frontline officers to focus their skills and time on border security issues and on cohorts who present the greatest risk of immigration abuse."

The decision to scrap landing cards comes after the government announced it was extending the use of e-gates at UK borders to citizens of the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Singapore and South Korea.

Currently the gates, which scan e-passports, are reserved for European Economic Area citizens.

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https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48297695

2019-05-17 06:55:47Z
CBMiJGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy91ay00ODI5NzY5NdIBKGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy9hbXAvdWstNDgyOTc2OTU

UK to scrap passenger landing cards - BBC News

All landing cards for international passengers arriving in the UK will be scrapped from Monday.

Landing cards are currently filled in by passengers arriving by air or sea from outside the European Economic Area.

Border Force director general Paul Lincoln, in a letter to staff, said it would "help meet the challenge of growing passenger numbers".

But unions warned it risked weakening immigration controls.

Around 16 million landing cards are issued every year and they are used to record what is said to border staff on arrival, as well as the reasons for travel and conditions of entry.

The Home Office had agreed to scrap them for seven countries, including the US and Australia, from June, but has now decided to go further.

'Only record'

A document from officials to Border Force staff, seen by the BBC, says much of the data collected by paper landing cards will soon be available digitally.

It adds that the withdrawal of the cards will enable staff to "focus more on your interaction with passengers".

But Immigration Service Union general secretary, Lucy Moreton, accused the Home Office of "ignoring" warnings from experienced staff as to the longer-term impact of getting rid of landing cards.

She said that the union had been assured that scrapping them would not happen until new technology was in place to record international arrivals.

"Although in most cases landing cards are retained for purely statistical reasons they do contain the only record of what was said to an officer on arrival," she said.

In his letter, Mr Lincoln said he recognised concerns about the scheme.

But he added: "These changes will enable frontline officers to focus their skills and time on border security issues and on cohorts who present the greatest risk of immigration abuse."

The decision to scrap landing cards comes after the government announced it was extending the use of e-gates at UK borders to citizens of the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Singapore and South Korea.

Currently the gates, which scan e-passports, are reserved for European Economic Area citizens.

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https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48297695

2019-05-17 06:47:28Z
CBMiJGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy91ay00ODI5NzY5NdIBKGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy9hbXAvdWstNDgyOTc2OTU

UK to scrap passenger landing cards - BBC News

All landing cards for international passengers arriving in the UK will be scrapped from Monday.

Landing cards are currently filled in by passengers arriving by air or sea from outside the European Economic Area.

Border Force director general Paul Lincoln, in a letter to staff, said it would "help meet the challenge of growing passenger numbers".

But unions warned it risked weakening immigration controls.

Around 16 million landing cards are issued every year and they are used to record what is said to border staff on arrival, as well as the reasons for travel and conditions of entry.

The Home Office had agreed to scrap them for seven countries, including the US and Australia, from June, but has now decided to go further.

'Only record'

A document from officials to Border Force staff, seen by the BBC, says much of the data collected by paper landing cards will soon be available digitally.

It adds that the withdrawal of the cards will enable staff to "focus more on your interaction with passengers".

But Immigration Service Union general secretary, Lucy Moreton, accused the Home Office of "ignoring" warnings from experienced staff as to the longer-term impact of getting rid of landing cards.

She said that the union had been assured that scrapping them would not happen until new technology was in place to record international arrivals.

"Although in most cases landing cards are retained for purely statistical reasons they do contain the only record of what was said to an officer on arrival," she said.

In his letter, Mr Lincoln said he recognised concerns about the scheme.

But he added: "These changes will enable frontline officers to focus their skills and time on border security issues and on cohorts who present the greatest risk of immigration abuse."

The decision to scrap landing cards comes after the government announced it was extending the use of e-gates at UK borders to citizens of the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Singapore and South Korea.

Currently the gates, which scan e-passports, are reserved for European Economic Area citizens.

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https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48297695

2019-05-17 04:35:32Z
CBMiJGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy91ay00ODI5NzY5NdIBKGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy9hbXAvdWstNDgyOTc2OTU

UK to scrap passenger landing cards - BBC News

All landing cards for international passengers arriving in the UK will be scrapped from Monday.

Landing cards are currently filled in by passengers arriving by air or sea from outside the European Economic Area.

Border Force director general Paul Lincoln, in a letter to staff, said it would "help meet the challenge of growing passenger numbers".

But unions warned it risked weakening immigration controls.

Around 16 million landing cards are issued every year and they are used to record what is said to border staff on arrival, as well as the reasons for travel and conditions of entry.

The Home Office had agreed to scrap them for seven countries, including the US and Australia, from June, but has now decided to go further.

'Only record'

A document from officials to Border Force staff, seen by the BBC, says much of the data collected by paper landing cards will soon be available digitally.

It adds that the withdrawal of the cards will enable staff to "focus more on your interaction with passengers".

But Immigration Service Union general secretary, Lucy Moreton, accused the Home Office of "ignoring" warnings from experienced staff as to the longer-term impact of getting rid of landing cards.

She said that the union had been assured that scrapping them would not happen until new technology was in place to record international arrivals.

"Although in most cases landing cards are retained for purely statistical reasons they do contain the only record of what was said to an officer on arrival," she said.

In his letter, Mr Lincoln said he recognised concerns about the scheme.

But he added: "These changes will enable frontline officers to focus their skills and time on border security issues and on cohorts who present the greatest risk of immigration abuse."

The decision to scrap landing cards comes after the government announced it was extending the use of e-gates at UK borders to citizens of the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Singapore and South Korea.

Currently the gates, which scan e-passports, are reserved for European Economic Area citizens.

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https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-48297695

2019-05-17 03:33:38Z
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UK to scrap passenger landing cards - BBC News

All landing cards for international passengers arriving in the UK will be scrapped from Monday.

Landing cards are currently filled in by passengers arriving by air or sea from outside the European Economic Area.

Border Force director general Paul Lincoln, in a letter to staff, said it would "help meet the challenge of growing passenger numbers".

But unions warned it risked weakening immigration controls.

Around 16 million landing cards are issued every year and they are used to record what is said to border staff on arrival, as well as the reasons for travel and conditions of entry.

The Home Office had agreed to scrap them for seven countries, including the US and Australia, from June, but has now decided to go further.

'Only record'

A document from officials to Border Force staff, seen by the BBC, says much of the data collected by paper landing cards will soon be available digitally.

It adds that the withdrawal of the cards will enable staff to "focus more on your interaction with passengers".

But Immigration Service Union general secretary, Lucy Moreton, accused the Home Office of "ignoring" warnings from experienced staff as to the longer-term impact of getting rid of landing cards.

She said that the union had been assured that scrapping them would not happen until new technology was in place to record international arrivals.

"Although in most cases landing cards are retained for purely statistical reasons they do contain the only record of what was said to an officer on arrival," she said.

In his letter, Mr Lincoln said he recognised concerns about the scheme.

But he added: "These changes will enable frontline officers to focus their skills and time on border security issues and on cohorts who present the greatest risk of immigration abuse."

The decision to scrap landing cards comes after the government announced it was extending the use of e-gates at UK borders to citizens of the US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Singapore and South Korea.

Currently the gates, which scan e-passports, are reserved for European Economic Area citizens.

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2019-05-17 02:22:48Z
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UK follows US lead, raises threat level in Iraq due to threat from Iran - Fox News

The United Kingdom has increased the threat level for its forces and diplomats in Iraq due to the threat from Iran.

The move comes a day after all non-essential American personnel were ordered to leave the Iraq Embassy and consulate amid claims that Iran-backed militias moved missiles near bases housing U.S. forces.

MIKE POMPEO SAID IRAN-BACKED MILITIAS MOVED ROCKETS NEAR AMERICAN BASES IN IRAQ

The U.K. also put its personnel in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar on a heightened state of alert, according to Sky News, with a source telling the network that there’s an increased possibility of Iran or its proxies taking action against British, U.S. or other allied interests in the Middle East.

Britain appears to have drawn similar conclusions to the U.S. amid the increasing tensions between the Trump administration and the Iranian regime, even though a British general took an unusual step to disregard the Iranian threat on Monday.

Earlier this week, Maj Gen Chris Ghika, the deputy commander of Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led force combatting Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, told reporters: “No, there's been no increased threat from Iranian-backed forces in Iraq and Syria”.

The targets of possible action by Iran or its proxies are likely to be oil infrastructure or other civilian targets, Sky News reported. The attacks are expected to be done in a way that the Iranian regime could plausibly deny it in an effort to avoid retaliation from Western forces.

Iran has recently threatened to pull out of the nuclear deal and resume higher uranium enrichment if no new deal is put in place, while Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told the Iraqi top brass that U.S. intelligence showed Iran-backed militias moved missiles near bases housing American forces.

Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Zarif on Thursday deemed new sanctions imposed by the Trump administration as “unacceptable” but noted that the country is committed to the nuclear deal.

US NON-ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL ORDERED TO LEAVE IRAQ EMBASSY, CONSULATE

“We believe that escalation by the United States is unacceptable and uncalled for. We have exercised maximum restraints,” he said during a visit in Japan.

“We believe that escalation by the United States is unacceptable and uncalled for. We have exercised maximum restraints.”

— Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Zarif

The claim that hostile militia forces are positioning the rockets near bases housing American troops, provides insight into the threats the U.S. faces in the Middle East in the wake of rising tensions between the Trump administration and the Iranian regime.

American military experts have suggested “Iran or its proxies” damaged four commercial ships off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sunday. Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, accused Tehran of ordering “the terrorist acts” against their oil pipeline, a drone attack that was claimed by Yemen’s Iran-allied Houthi rebels.

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President Trump denied Tuesday the reports that the administration was planning to send more than 100,000 troops to the region in the wake of heightened tensions in the region, but instead noted that “If we did that, we’d send a hell of a lot more troops than that.”

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https://www.foxnews.com/world/uk-threat-level-iraq-iran

2019-05-16 14:05:45Z
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