Harbours have inadequate security

Due to an unforeseen flight cancellation from Southampton a group of like-minded chaps decided to catch the early morning Condor Liberation sailing and four seats were booked over the phone by a partner of one of the group. Upon arrival at Poole Harbour none of us were required to provide any form of photo identification to receive our tickets and in fact the name on my own ticket was incorrect, in that it was not the same as that on my passport or driving licence.

We were then able to board the Liberation with no requirement to show photo identification and no form of baggage screening. I find such lax procedures quite worrying as to me this potentially means we are unsure exactly who is visiting our island and what they may be carrying, or indeed, who may be living and working here illegally. Yes we have right to work legislation, but I am sure I am not alone in believing casual labour is taken advantage of locally.

Having reviewed Condor's website it is quite clear that they do not require photo identification for their UK-C.I. routes, only their C.I. or UK -France routes. Why should the identification requirements differ between air travel and ferry travel? I am at a loss to understand the differentiation.

In these times of heightened terror threat and the potential for illegal immigration surely we should be 100% certain of the persons coming across our border. I fail to see how Guernsey Border Agency can carry out their primary function of protecting our border if they do not have an accurate and verified passenger manifest of all travellers to the island.

Surely this is a significant risk which needs urgent mitigation and processes and procedures implemented between Condor and the GBA to ensure our border is appropriately protected at all times?

NICK BENNETT,

St Martin's.