(qlmbusinessnews.com Thurs. 9th May, 2024) London, UK —
“Lessons from UK Airport E-Gate Failure: Calls for Improved Contingency Plans”
The recent nationwide failure of passport control e-gates at UK airports has prompted concerns and calls for improved contingency measures from various quarters. Lord Foster of Bath, highlighting the gravity of the situation, emphasized the need for the government to glean lessons from the technological breakdown that affected major airports including Heathrow and Gatwick.
The disruption, attributed to a “network routing issue,” resulted in extensive queues and inconvenience for thousands of passengers. The glitch, which also impacted other border security systems, raised questions about the resilience and preparedness of critical infrastructure.
Lord Foster, chair of the Lords Justice and Home Affairs committee, stressed the importance of equipping Border Force staff with the necessary training and resources to effectively manage such crises. He underscored the significance of robust systems, particularly in light of the impending rollout of the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
Lucy Moreton, a professional officer with the Immigration Services Union, echoed concerns about the recurring issues with e-gates, urging the Home Office to ensure adequate contingency plans are in place. She emphasized the paramount importance of maintaining border security while managing operational disruptions.
Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of The Advantage Travel Partnership, emphasized the need for sufficient investment in travel technologies and robust contingency plans to mitigate disruptions and inconvenience for travellers.
The incident has also reignited discussions about oversight and accountability in border management. The absence of a borders watchdog following the dismissal of the previous chief inspector of borders and immigration, David Neal, has raised questions about transparency and accountability in the governance of border security.
While the Home Office has assured that border security was not compromised during the outage and that a swift contingency response was activated, the incident underscores the need for continuous evaluation and improvement of critical infrastructure to prevent similar disruptions in the future.
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