They cut loads, then tried to bring in agency staff with no legal powers. Then tried to recruit apprentices to undercut staff, again with no legal powers. Now they put everyone into brigade teams, meaning some staff have to cover multiple ports. So you travel to your home port, get a van and have to drive another port. Then they wondered how everyone's annualised hours were used by after 6 months. They forget we have to sit in custody suits for hours waiting for legal reps. Average rubbish day is a 18 hour shift minimum, they then expect you in the next day, if not in court for a remand hearing. They knew they needed a seizure and detention lorry park in Kent. Still not got planning permission. They need inland ports for detained and seized goods, and goods pending import and export clearance (government bonded warehouse). They've got the footings in for a few, but no plans for further recruitment. Natural wastage of staff is high, sick levels off the chart. It's a headcase! We lost quite a few staff to covid (deaths and serious health issues arising from it) because of poor PPE and not being classed as front line. We didnt get any special treatment for jabs either. Had wait like everyone else, same as prison officers.
We will have inflation of over 10% within the year, with stunted growth & massively increased costs for fuel, transportation and service jobs, including social care & hospitality. It was known as "stagflation" back then in the 70's. Boris's speech was a car crash of flag waving Jingoism. The punters will love it, until reality bites.
He can't do serious. All he knows is how to be "upbeat"... which to the rest of us is merely a state of delusional screeching, most of which, if not all, is far from truth and reality. Chaos will ensue whilever we're stuck with him. Looking at the faces of the rank and file once the cabinet had got faceache from their faux grins, there was little cheer to be seen. DePfeffel isnt as popular as he thinks he is. He's certainly not helping his cause in the south, and LibDems could well capitalise. If Starmer can muster something to gain back some northern seats... you never know. I suspect the tories will hold on to a full term as things hit the rails, The longer they hold out for a GE, the weaker their showing and the more time for reality to shine through the lies.
There is a limit that he will carry off his "written on the back of a *** packet lies".he'll be sacrificed I'm hoping we may get a better government after that, but suspect he'll be sacrificed by the Tory party & Sunak will spin some new ****.
I know a fair few people who have voted tory traditionally (all in Kent or London) and they didn't vote that way at the last GE. It may well be that the significant majority emboldens people to vote elsewhere too. Sunaks speech and dePfeffels couldn't be more chalk and cheese. I obviously wouldn't vote for either, but the tory rank and file are more aligned with Sunaks austerity rather than tax rises. The tory media aren't behind Johnson especially either, lots of snipes at him in one way or another. I'd hope somebody from the fringes emerges. Tom Tugendhat has always seemed decent when speaking, though I don't share his politics, so perhaps a shock to push back to the centre and jettison the current cabal. The problem is how the far right have infiltrated the tory ranks, which given their very low member numbers, has a bigger skew on what sort of leader they can get when dePfeffel gets ousted. I really can't see him lasting through next year.
It was me who first typed FACT.... Er, because I stated a fact. He was taking the wee wee out of me I think.
It's a disgrace how unprofessional this country is and how nothing of what you have just shared, has been reported in the mainstream media. I hope you and your colleagues have support and help to carry out your work,which the majority of people would recognise is a difficult one.
The unions are aware, but because we are a law enforcement body they don't quite understand us. Some within the union movement don't like us cos we have to do things which go against leftist theology. We'd be better suit in the police federation, I think that way more would come out publicly. I'm a union rep and do my bit, however the departments admin / casework offices are overrun with personal cases. We are having it bad on the front line, those working on Immigration casework are treated not just appallingly but at times illegally.
To be fair, the security at Newcastle ferry port was so lapse the last time I went, I reckon I could have walked through with a bazooka, and a picture of Dave Benson Phillips as ID.
Yes, that's exactly what I recall as well. The Newcastle - Amsterdam route was hugely popular during my student days, and I don't remember anyone ever having an issue on returning to the UK if they'd "accidentally" left any local Amsterdam produce in their pockets and bags...
My wife travels everywhere she goes in Europe on her national ID card rather than her passport and so do all of her family.