Strange customs
From Jill Watkin-Tuck
Sir: Having suffered similar humiliation and over-zealous inanity at the hands of British immigration, I can only sympathise with James Hughes-Onslow’s friend (‘Hop off, you Aussies’, 27 August). However, I do have to point out that this is neither a new phenomenon following an increased threat level, nor is it specific to Australians.
It happened to me in 1996. I was an American citizen, an 18-year resident of Switzerland, who as the child of a former diplomat had lived abroad my whole life, and had been travelling back and forth to Britain since I was a child. I simply wished to visit my British boyfriend for a couple of weeks. But the officer was afraid I would ‘disappear’ once in the country, despite the fact that I always left when I said I would and had never overstayed my visa.
To this day, most people cannot believe that I was interrogated for four hours, had my belongings confiscated (except my money which they were ‘not allowed to handle’), my diary and all personal papers photocopied (and then distortedly used ‘against’ me), was not allowed a phone call, was threatened with a night in a detention centre since there were no flights back that evening, and generally treated like a criminal.
Now happily married to my thenboyfriend, with indefinite leave to remain in the UK, and despite having unfailingly contributed 40 per cent of my income to help pay the salaries of these bureaucrats, I am still given the third degree every time I fly in from a trip abroad. Indeed, the last time, I was asked how I had ‘acquired’ my leave to remain, making me again feel like a criminal.
Wouldn’t it be better if, instead of treating with contempt those of us who love and contribute to this country, they could concentrate their efforts on preventing wanted terrorists from leaving the country right under their very noses?
Jill Watkin-Tuck
Cambridge
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