The UK government has announced that the French border control zone at the Port of Dover will be expanded to reduce queues at peak times when the new EU rules come into effect in November. Under the new regulations, travellers from non-EU countries, including the UK, will have to register their details at the EU border and provide biometric data. The Home Office minister, Seema Malhotra, will lay a Statutory Instrument in Parliament on Monday to allow French border officials to operate in an expanded zone at the Port of Dover.
The change in the law is part of the preparations to minimise the risk of traffic disruption and create more space to process passengers. The port will change the location of passport control for passengers arriving to board ferries to a new border control zone at its Western Docks. Additionally, the port has been making significant upgrades to its infrastructure, including building bespoke facilities to carry out the checks. The facilities will have 24 kiosks for coach passengers to complete the checks, with passengers in cars registering their details using agents and tablets.
Ms Malhotra has warned that the new checks will be a “major change” to the EU border, and the public should anticipate queues during peak times when they are first introduced. However, the Home Office ministers are working to minimise the risk of excessive queue times as much as possible. The government will work with the French government, local authorities, and businesses to streamline EU border checks at the port.
In conclusion, the French border control zone at the Port of Dover will be expanded to reduce the risk of queues when the new EU regulations come into effect in November. This change in law allows French border officials to operate in an expanded zone. Moreover, the UK government will work with the French government, local authorities, and businesses to streamline EU border checks at the port. The public must prepare for some queues during peak times when the new checks are first implemented, but the Home Office ministers are working to minimise the risk of excessive queue times as much as possible
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