NFR bloody Belgians

[epsomraver]

Not you Sipwell  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16058860

[sipwell]

Well, excuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuse me but we are still an independent and sovereign nation. British policemen/border staff have no powers in my country and should not question people on our turf. 

[FatFreddysCat]

We should just invade Belgium  :028:

[Airfix]

The way the bloomin' EU is going, we'll have no say on our own turf soon.

There, that should close this thread!

[epsomraver]

We should just invade Belgium  :028:

Everybody else does why not us  :005:

[epsomraver]

Well, excuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuse me but we are still an independent and sovereign nation. British policemen/border staff have no powers in my country and should not question people on our turf. 

But every body wants to get out of there and over here :hook:

[Berserker]

I personally really like Belgium, mind you I do live in Swindon. I can see their point and if a Belgium Border Control officer was wondering around Paddington station eyeing up people that might go to St Pancreas to get on a train to Lille, and then Brussels, we'd all be moaning about it.  But I do think something needs to be done to stop this loop hole, mind you when I got off the Eurostar the last time I'm sure I had my passport checked, but seeing I usually drive over or fly over it was Waterloo station then.

[sipwell]

I personally really like Belgium, mind you I do live in Swindon. I can see their point and if a Belgium Border Control officer was wondering around Paddington station eyeing up people that might go to St Pancreas to get on a train to Lille, and then Brussels, we'd all be moaning about it.  But I do think something needs to be done to stop this loop hole, mind you when I got off the Eurostar the last time I'm sure I had my passport checked, but seeing I usually drive over or fly over it was Waterloo station then.

I have no problem with that but surely the UK Border Control could check people in St. Pancreas, when they get off the train? It is a little bit odd that UK border control can check people in Belgium before they enter the UK.

[epsomraver]

I personally really like Belgium, mind you I do live in Swindon. I can see their point and if a Belgium Border Control officer was wondering around Paddington station eyeing up people that might go to St Pancreas to get on a train to Lille, and then Brussels, we'd all be moaning about it.  But I do think something needs to be done to stop this loop hole, mind you when I got off the Eurostar the last time I'm sure I had my passport checked, but seeing I usually drive over or fly over it was Waterloo station then.

I have no problem with that but surely the UK Border Control could check people in St. Pancreas, when they get off the train? It is a little bit odd that UK border control can check people in Belgium before they enter the UK.
[/quote

The border is where you board, the same as the border is at Calais before you get on the ferry, if it is this end we have to send them all back to you! :dead horse:

[sipwell]

I personally really like Belgium, mind you I do live in Swindon. I can see their point and if a Belgium Border Control officer was wondering around Paddington station eyeing up people that might go to St Pancreas to get on a train to Lille, and then Brussels, we'd all be moaning about it.  But I do think something needs to be done to stop this loop hole, mind you when I got off the Eurostar the last time I'm sure I had my passport checked, but seeing I usually drive over or fly over it was Waterloo station then.

I have no problem with that but surely the UK Border Control could check people in St. Pancreas, when they get off the train? It is a little bit odd that UK border control can check people in Belgium before they enter the UK.
[/quote

The border is where you board, the same as the border is at Calais before you get on the ferry, if it is this end we have to send them all back to you! :dead horse:

Probably why, when you take an airplane to the US, you are NOT checked upon entry. Hmm?

[Berserker]

When I've driven back from the continent through Calais, usually the French don't bother that much with me, it's usually the British that are more stringent at Dover. Maybe the Eurostar should stop before or after the Tunnel so that passports can be checked, suppose that would be quite a hold up though. Don't know it's a tough one to solve.

[Jimpav]

Surely this could be solved by:

A) Put those pax travelling from Brussels to Lille in a separate coach (there are approximately 18 coaches).

B) Scrap the stop between Brussels and Lille. This route must have umpteen other trains from Brussels and if Eurostar still wish to operate a  direct service to Lille then it could be as part of a slower route to Paris.

[MrFantastic]

Long live the free and independent country of Belgium, and UK can't police can't check anyone they should wait until train reaches UK train station and check those people who are exiting in UK and that is it.  Belgium is great country and I am sick of those separatists who are trying to divide Belgium. UK will respect Belgium's authority in Belgium and that is it.

[Logicalman]

I personally really like Belgium, mind you I do live in Swindon. I can see their point and if a Belgium Border Control officer was wondering around Paddington station eyeing up people that might go to St Pancreas to get on a train to Lille, and then Brussels, we'd all be moaning about it.  But I do think something needs to be done to stop this loop hole, mind you when I got off the Eurostar the last time I'm sure I had my passport checked, but seeing I usually drive over or fly over it was Waterloo station then.

I have no problem with that but surely the UK Border Control could check people in St. Pancreas, when they get off the train? It is a little bit odd that UK border control can check people in Belgium before they enter the UK.

Just saving time on having to send all those undesirables back Mr. Sipwell, unlike persons of standing as your good self of course  :Haynes The Maestro:

[Logicalman]

There does appear to be a simple solution to this matter, and that being make everyone disembark at Lille and having all border checks completed there before they get back onto the train If it means the train is delayed, or whatever, until all checks are completed, then so be it, it'll soon result in complaints as far back as Brussels and then someone will do something at the original boarding point.

[CorkedHat]

I want to know where this St Pancreas is. Being a diabetic it might come in handy :down_under:

[sipwell]

There does appear to be a simple solution to this matter, and that being make everyone disembark at Lille and having all border checks completed there before they get back onto the train If it means the train is delayed, or whatever, until all checks are completed, then so be it, it'll soon result in complaints as far back as Brussels and then someone will do something at the original boarding point.

I am sorry Logicalman but that still implies that we have to hand over bits of our sovereignty. In my opinion, the UK has decided not to be in Schengen. Fair enough, but the problems that creates are Britain's to fix, not ours. Moreover, the UK has decided to have extremely lax rules on who is permitted on its territory (get there, you can stay there). Again, a policy the UK feels comfortable with but not one that we, as Belgians, should enforce on their behalf.

I also object to the title of this thread. It implies that Belgians are too blame for weak British policies. If you want the checks, have them on your side of the border. We are Schengen and proud of it :)

There, you can close the thread now :D

[ImperialWhite]

Why didn't the UK join Schengen again? It just makes sense.

It's quicker to get to Brussells (or Lille, or Paris...) than Scotland from London, it needn't be such a faff to sort out.

[sipwell]

Why didn't the UK join Schengen again? It just makes sense.

It's quicker to get to Brussells (or Lille, or Paris...) than Scotland from London, it needn't be such a faff to sort out.

The reason the UK did not join Schengen is because it does not have an elaborate passport system for its residents and allows everyone on its territory. If you can get in, you can stay (contrary to all other European countries). Island mentality I guess. The consequence is that all asylum seekers want to get to England (understandably) and use all the existing loopholes.

Our problem, our fault? I doubt it.

[Logicalman]

There does appear to be a simple solution to this matter, and that being make everyone disembark at Lille and having all border checks completed there before they get back onto the train If it means the train is delayed, or whatever, until all checks are completed, then so be it, it'll soon result in complaints as far back as Brussels and then someone will do something at the original boarding point.

I am sorry Logicalman but that still implies that we have to hand over bits of our sovereignty. In my opinion, the UK has decided not to be in Schengen. Fair enough, but the problems that creates are Britain's to fix, not ours. Moreover, the UK has decided to have extremely lax rules on who is permitted on its territory (get there, you can stay there). Again, a policy the UK feels comfortable with but not one that we, as Belgians, should enforce on their behalf.

I also object to the title of this thread. It implies that Belgians are too blame for weak British policies. If you want the checks, have them on your side of the border. We are Schengen and proud of it :)

There, you can close the thread now :D

I understand what you say, and I do agree a fair amount, but this is likened to travelling by Air, the last port of call before passports are required is the port travellers have to disembark and go through passport control, same at Lille.