UK operators 'ready' for new border checks system

A total of 106 biometrics machines will be in use at Folkestone

The chief executive of Eurotunnel says there is no excuse for operators not to be ready for the introduction of new EU border checks being phased in from October.

Passengers from the UK entering the bloc will have to have their photo and fingerprints taken at the Channel Tunnel, the Port of Dover and on Eurostar, while those flying into the EU will be registered when they land.

The European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES) is meant to strengthen security and make travel smoother, but there are concerns it could lead to long queues when people first use it.

Eurotunnel's Yann Leriche said the company was "ready" and insisted there "won't be disruption" at the terminals in Folkestone and Calais.

He said: "There will be no chaos. We have had many, many months to get prepared for this."

The scheme will require travellers entering the bloc from the UK and other non-EU countries to register their details at the EU border and provide biometric data.

The new technology is aimed at modernising the management of the EU's external borders as well as detecting travellers who overstay and identity fraud.

Eurotunnel will process coaches and lorries from 12 October and will begin registering car passengers by the end of this year.

People will have to get out of their vehicles to have biometric details taken at electronic kiosks.

Eurotunnel said that will add around two minutes to each journey per person.

It said it will be able to handle 700 vehicles an hour at 224 machines.

Eurotunnel CEO Yann Leriche says the company is "ready" for the changes

The Port of Dover and Eurostar have both said they are ready for the phased start.

At Dover, coach passengers will start using the new system on 12 October, followed by other tourist traffic on 1 November.

At Eurostar, a small number of business travellers will be invited to use the new system from October.

Eurostar has installed 49 EES kiosks in three areas around its London St Pancras terminal.

In the six months before full implementation, all operators will be able to ask for checks to be suspended to allow French border control officers to revert to the manual stamping of passports.

The UK government recently launched a publicity campaign to alert passengers to the incoming changes.