PRESS RELEASE : Strike to affect travellers and goods entering the UK in February half-term [February 2023]

The Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union has announced Civil Service industrial action that will impact Border Force operations.

Border Force strike proposed dates

Dates

• 17 February
• 18 February
• 19 February
• 20 February (until 7am)

Locations

The proposed strike action will impact travellers (passengers and freight) entering the UK via the following juxtaposed ports (border controls outside of the UK that allows Border Force to check passengers and freight before they begin their journey):

• Port of Calais
• Port of Dunkirk
• Coquelles Channel Tunnel Terminal

If you are travelling into the UK through these ports, you should prepare for disruption and check before you travel.

Our number one priority is to keep our borders safe and secure, and we will never compromise on this.

Military personnel, civil servants and volunteers from across government are being trained to support Border Force at airports and ports across the UK in the event of potential strike action. Border Force are ready to deploy resource to meet critical demand and support the flow of travellers and goods through the border, however those entering the UK should be prepared for potential disruption.

We are working closely with port authorities, operators and French counterparts to make sure travellers are prepared and do not experience unnecessary delays at the border due to the proposed strike action.

Advice for people entering the UK

Although this strike action targets the above ports, all those who are due to travel into the UK during the proposed industrial action should be prepared to face longer wait times at UK border control.

All passengers should check the latest advice from their operators before travelling.

Please be patient and respect officers who are working to keep our citizens safe and border secure, and supporting travellers during the strike action.

We encourage all passengers where available and eligible to use eGates to do so.

Please respect staff as we try and get you through the border as quickly and safely as possible. All forms of abuse and any inappropriate behaviour will be reported to the police.

Hauliers – impact of strike action

Hauliers who are moving goods during the proposed strike action should be prepared for potential disruption and longer queues at ports.

Please check with your operator before travelling, be prepared for delays and carefully plan your movements if they coincide with days of strike action.

Border wait times

As you’d expect, accurate queue time data can take some time to gather and check, however if you are travelling during the proposed strike dates be prepared for longer wait times.

There are multiple factors that might influence wait times including an increase in passenger numbers, delays and congestion caused by multiple flights disembarking passengers at the same time. Weather delays, and other ad hoc incidents, can also impact border control queues.

We advise travellers to check with travel agents, tour operators, and airlines / carriers before travelling, to check if the proposed strike action will affect your journey.

Passengers can also check port websites before travelling to stay up to date with the latest information related to travel or possible delays caused by strike action.

What we are doing to avoid disruption and queues at the border during the strike action

We continue to work closely with our French counterparts and industry to minimise disruption and delays at the border during proposed industrial action.

Border Force and the travel industry work together very closely at a local and national level and have regular meetings to agree plans for pressures while keeping the public safe.

Remember:

• there are often a few things that might influence wait times including an increase in passenger numbers, flights delays and congestion due to multiple flights disembarking passengers at the same time
• check the latest advice from your operators before travelling