The UKBA and the Black Spot ##Updated##

I travelled to Belgium via P&O Ferries from Hull on the Pride of York. l took my sister and this time went in the car. When we arrived the next day we had a great day in Belgium and then returned to the ferry for the overnight trip back to Hull. Check in was uneventful except for a British car that had 2 occupants. This car was not in line for boarding the ferry but took great interest in all the British cars that were there and would drive down the lines of all the vehicles waiting to embark.You can make up your own minds on that.

Once aboard the ferry we settled in and then went for a meal. They are not cheap but it was good. We got talking to some coach drivers and they told us about previous companies they had worked for. We got round to booze trips and was amazed to find that some coach companies are actively giving the UKBA the names of their own passengers! One coach driver said he was told to give details of any passengers going into the tobacco shops ... and that wasn't a booze cruise! Again, make up your own minds on that.

Arriving in Hull the next day, we disembarked the ferry and we drove through passport control. My sister asked if that was it and we were free to go? l told her no, that just lulls you into a false sense of security and next was the UKBA sheds and l fully expected to be stopped and searched.

Sure enough as we approached the sheds, there was a UKBA officer stood waiting for us. The 2 cars ahead (foreign plates) had simply been waved on. Once into the sheds we were directed to a control point where a female UKBA officer proceeded to go through the usual circus. l popped the boot and got out, taking a folder with me. As she was looking in the boot, l took some papers out of my folder and then got her attention. l then handed her a Statement of Truth ... you'd have thought it was the dreaded 'Black Spot' by the reaction on her face.

The search of my vehicle and luggage stopped there and then before she had really even started. She went off and got another officer who in turn got his senior officer. My Statement of Truth listed previous trips, what l had and what l hadn't brought back, names of or ID numbers of the UKBA officers who'd stopped me on these previous trips, when and where these stops happened. Also listed was the details of this trip, what l'd bought and the why's thereof, my right to do so according to EU and UK laws. What my sister had bought and all the relevant said details.

It also stated that because the UKBA view previous trips as all being trips purchasing tobacco/cigarettes whenever they stop you with such goods that l was collecting and documenting my own history so this could not be used against me at anytime in the future.

The UKBA love to quote "laws" at you and give you official pieces of paper when trying to confiscate your legally bought goods but they aren't so happy at receiving it! They simply did not know how to proceed.  l could see them talking and discussing the Black Spot and then the senior officer went to make phone calls. ln all this time myself and my sister were left alone. My sister took out a crossword book and started on that and l put on my i-pod and listened to music.

Eventually the female officer returned and said l was free to go and handed my Statement of Truth back to me. l took it and along with another copy of it and asked her for her name and ID. She choose not to give me her name but did give me her ID number and took off her hi-viz jacket to reveal the number. The other UKBA officer returned so l got his too and wrote them down on the statements. l then signed and dated both, my sister did the same. l then asked her to choose either copy but seemed afraid of handling the Black Spot so l put it on the table at the control point for her.

l then got in my vehicle, said my goodbyes and left.


Next to come was my trip to Poland. One would think l'd avoid the airport where l had such an ordeal ... Doncaster, Robin Hood Airport. No such thing ... l informed UKBA of my trip to Poland and also informed the Chief Inspector of South Yorks Police of said trip. There was no reply from UKBA but the Chief Inspector said he had informed his officers at the airport of my trip and my continuing issues with UKBA.

Before l went on my trip to Poland another Black Spot had to be produced to take with me.

Hey ho, m'earties!

##UPDATE##

Tomorrow l should get the review to my complaint. Am l expecting satisfaction? .... No. What l expect is a load of  waffle and 'not in the public interest' non disclosure statements despite having them bang to rights both legally and morally. I await to see if l'm proven wrong.