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Computer fault causes delays at airports and sea ports Computer fault causes delays at airports and sea ports
(35 minutes later)
Passengers have faced disruption at several UK airports and sea ports following an IT glitch.Passengers have faced disruption at several UK airports and sea ports following an IT glitch.
The fault on UK Border Force computers caused long delays for passengers at airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Birmingham.The fault on UK Border Force computers caused long delays for passengers at airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Birmingham.
The problem began on Wednesday with ports such as Dover and Southampton also affected.The problem began on Wednesday with ports such as Dover and Southampton also affected.
The Home Office said security remained a "priority", and that it was still trying to fix the problem. The Home Office apologised and said engineers had been working "through the night" on the issue.
A spokesman for Gatwick Airport told BBC News that the queues had reduced overnight and it was "business as usual" for passengers. On Thursday morning, Immigration Minister James Brokenshire said: "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.
The spokesman also said its IT systems were "back up and running", although the Home Office is yet to confirm this. "We apologise for any delays but security must remain our priority at all times."
A spokesman for Gatwick Airport told BBC News that the queues had reduced overnight, that its IT systems were "back up and running" and it was "business as usual" for passengers.
Officials at Heathrow confirmed there were no queues at their terminals on Thursday morning.Officials at Heathrow confirmed there were no queues at their terminals on Thursday morning.
The glitch meant that UK Border Force staff were forced to input passport details manually rather than simply scanning documents.The glitch meant that UK Border Force staff were forced to input passport details manually rather than simply scanning documents.
The delays had a particular impact on non-EU passengers, and extra staff were called in to try to reduce the queuing time. The delays had a particular impact on non-EU passengers, and extra Border Force staff were called in to try to reduce the queuing time.
The BBC's Sarah Falkland said delays of up to 90 minutes befell passengers on Wednesday evening, while the queuing time at Gatwick was even longer.The BBC's Sarah Falkland said delays of up to 90 minutes befell passengers on Wednesday evening, while the queuing time at Gatwick was even longer.
She said the problem affected both self-service e-Passport gates - which operate by running a facial recognition check against a traveller's passport - and manned customs desks.She said the problem affected both self-service e-Passport gates - which operate by running a facial recognition check against a traveller's passport - and manned customs desks.
At London Luton Airport, passenger Simon Kalman, 57, of Golders Green, London, told BBC News he had been queuing alongside about 2,000 other people, and had waited for almost two hours.At London Luton Airport, passenger Simon Kalman, 57, of Golders Green, London, told BBC News he had been queuing alongside about 2,000 other people, and had waited for almost two hours.
Mr Kalman, who arrived at the airport at 22:45 BST on Wednesday after flying in from Barcelona, said: "It was a total mess, there was limited water available and people were getting very frustrated."Mr Kalman, who arrived at the airport at 22:45 BST on Wednesday after flying in from Barcelona, said: "It was a total mess, there was limited water available and people were getting very frustrated."
The Border Force spokesperson said: "We are currently experiencing temporary IT problems which may add to the time taken to conduct passport checks.
"We are working to rectify this issue and are providing extra staff to get passengers through the controls as quickly as possible. Our priority remains security of the border."
No departure issues
A spokesman for Heathrow Airport said: "There are some longer queues than normal in the terminals, but we have spoken to border force and they are putting on extra staff.
"Obviously we want to sort the issue out but not risk the integrity of the border controls."
Meanwhile, a Birmingham Airport spokesman said: "We are aware [of the glitch] and the impact it is having at the moment.
"It appears to be getting progressively worse but we are hoping it will be sorted out soon."
A Gatwick spokesman said there should not be any delays to flights leaving UK airports.
Manchester Airport said queues had gone down after some passengers experienced a small delay.
Are you at a UK airport or do you know someone who has been affected by the delays? Do you have any information you would be willing to share with the BBC? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with the subject line "Travel disruption".Are you at a UK airport or do you know someone who has been affected by the delays? Do you have any information you would be willing to share with the BBC? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with the subject line "Travel disruption".