Getaway chaos as ferry passengers face six-hour security waits

THE summer holiday getaway turned to chaos today when a “critical incident” was declared at Dover and passengers were warned they faced six-hour delays getting through passport control.

- Ross Lydall

Severe problems were said to have been caused by a shortage of French border control officials, who check travel documents in Britain before allowing passengers to board channel ferries.

Only six of the 12 drive-through booths were reported to be open this morning, with the French authorities accused of “woefully inadequate” staffing levels. Extra checks required post-Brexit and Covid restrictions were blamed for it taking longer for the French authorities to process documents.

The British and French governments were alerted to the problems. P&O ferries advised passengers to allow at least six hours to get through security. Doug Bannister, chief executive of the Port of Dover, advised travellers to check with their travel firm before leaving home. He told BBC Radio Kent: “We have got a critical incident underway. We have been badly let down this morning by the French Border — insufficient resources and much slower than normal transactions, which is leading to significant congestion around the port. It’s going to be a very difficult day around the port. It is so immensely frustrating. We have been working flat out for a couple of months to welcome people back through the Port of Dover and enjoy their holidays.

“The ferry operators have pulled out all the stops. We have pulled out all the stops. It came down to this one moment this morning and it’s failed. Right now I would probably consider holding off heading for the border at this point in time until more is known. It is really difficult to get into town this morning.