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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Rajeev Syal Home affairs editor

UK Border Force urged to ‘deprioritise’ gun and drugs searches to ease queues

Passengers queue at a check-in desk at Manchester airport last summer.
Passengers queue at a check-in desk at Manchester airport last summer. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

Border Force officers have been ordered to “deprioritise” customs work at airports such as searching for guns and drugs in order to stop passport queues frustrating travellers.

Leaked emails show that staff at Manchester airport were told this month that customs work should be carried out only if “there is no likelihood of an excessive queue time”.

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