The French border control area at the port of Dover will be extended to reduce the risk of queues at peak times when new EU rules come into force in November, BBC reports.
Under the new EU entry/exit system (EES), travellers entering from the UK and other non-EU countries will have to register their details at the EU border and provide biometric data.
Home Affairs Minister Seema Malhotra will introduce legislation in Parliament on Monday to authorise French border guards to work in the extended Dover port area. It will commit the Home Office to working with the French government, local authorities and businesses to streamline EU border controls at the port.
The change in legislation is part of preparations to minimise the risk of disruption to traffic and create more space for passenger processing.
The port plans to change the location of passport control for passengers arriving to board ferries from Dover’s eastern docks to a new border control area at the western docks. The port is also undertaking a major modernisation of its harbour infrastructure, including the construction of dedicated inspection facilities.
It will have 24 kiosks for intercity bus passengers to be screened, as well as agent and tablet-based passenger check-in in vehicles.
Ms. Malhotra said the checks would be a “major change” at the EU border, so the public should be prepared for queues at peak times when they are first introduced. She said Home Office ministers were working to minimise the risk of excessive queues as much as possible.
