Full consultation submission revealed
The Steam Packet Company strongly opposes the introduction of ID checks at Island harbours.
Its detailed response to a Department of Home Affairs consultation on the proposal has been published via the Positive Action Group's Facebook page, following a freedom of information request from a member of the public.
In its summary of responses, published earlier this year, the DHA said it would continue to monitor developments with its partners and businesses involved in transporting passengers to and from the Island.
This is to see if ID checks should be introduced and an examination of whether there are alternative actions that could be taken to protect the Island.
In its submission, the Steam Packet said the proposals as drafted were ineffective and incapable of addressing the Department of Home Affairs' stated aims.
They would have an adverse impact on the Island's visitor economy, are operationally impractical and of very limited real-world benefit.
The Packet said it considered random port checks, at times of unusually high criminal activity, would be a more acceptable, practical, balanced and effective solution.
This would not involve the same degree of costs and risks to the visitor economy and more importantly would not inconvenience the vast majority of law abiding passengers seeking to exercise their right to free travel within the Common Travel Area.
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