IT Glitch Causes Air And Sea Travel Delays

UK travel by sea and air is now returning to normal after it was disrupted on Wednesday by a fault on UK Border Force computers.

The IT issue meant that Border Force staff were forced to manually input passport details instead of simply scanning them as they usually would, causing long queues.

According to the UK press, both self-service e-Passport gates and manned customs desks were affected by the problem.

However, the Home Office has apologised and claims that engineers had been working overnight on the issue, with Gatwick and Heathrow airports saying “business as usual” can commence today.

“The current situation is much improved and we are doing our best to keep waiting times to a minimum during this morning’s busy period,” claimed James Brokenshire, Immigration Minister.

“We apologise for any delays but security must remain our priority at all times,” he added.

Airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Birmingham were affected by the glitch, along with the ports in Dover and Southampton.

UK Border Forced Troubled By IT

This IT fault is not the first time the UK Border Force has come under technology related scrutiny.  

Last month the government was forced to end its e-Borders programme, which electronically collects details from passenger lists of all people entering and leaving the UK.

The scheme was “terminated” after a number of problems, including the cancellation of a £750m contract with Raytheon – the government claimed it had been in breach of contract.

The main checks and screens that were part of e-Borders were then incorporated into the wider Border Systems Programme.

© 24N.biz