Police Questioning Single Males Travelling To Thailand

[dominator]

Flying out from Manchester earlier this year, I was pulled aside and closely and seriously questioned about where I was going, where I lived, what was my business in Thailand, how much currency was I carrying, how was I funding my trip? It was a serious, close combat grilling.

When I had recovered enough from my total surprise at being verbally mugged like this to tell him I was a solicitor (even though I didn't look like one), he backed off, apolgised for delaying me and explained they were enforcing currency export regulations, which I knew was rubbish, but I was happy to be on my way.

Still I was seriously rattled for some time after it. Maybe that is what they try to do - to flush out people who they believe for whatever reason may have something to hide. But not many people have anything to hide on their way out from the UK, surely - except a huge sense of relief!

As a matter of interest how many pounds are you legally entitled to carry with you out of the UK?

[Moonbase]

I was stopped entering LHR a few years ago, or rather the person travelling with me was stopped by customs as I walked out ahead. I waited next to the exit doors as it does not take a genius to look at the flight manifests to see that we had flown a total of four flights next to each other during the previous three weeks and I would rather be questioned there at the airport rather than local police popping round to my UK house. Sure enough they came out looking for me and 'asked' if I would return to the secure area for a 'bag check'. I think there were three or four departments repesented, Customs, Police, Immigration + 'Other Police' - as there was a bit of friction between these people regarding who had rights of access over different areas within the airport and who could walk through metal scanners without extra checks, just their own in fighting.

There was a thorough bag check and close flick through of notepads and my camera, nothing to find so I wasn't too bothered. At the time I didn't have a computer with me, might have had a USB stick but if I did they did not check it. In total it took 30 minutes of my time.

I later found my friend was carrying a lot of fake watches and a few replic handguns, bought around the bars in Pattaya. He also had a history within the UK that I expect would make his transit through a place where such identity checks are easily carried out the focus of attention. And I believe it is that or the scanning of luggage between check-in in Thailand and collection within the UK that marked him out for a 'random' check while walking through the green channel.

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As a matter of interest how many pounds are you legally entitled to carry with you out of the UK?

I think it's USD10,000 in local currency? Edited December 17, 2008 by Moonbase

[Old Croc]

Certainly unusual for police to be targetting one demographic (single males) on departure. Although Customs can frequentely do so to find likely offenders for extra attention on return.

The explaination about currency regulations doesn't wash because anyone can fit that profile.

It has to be something to do with weeding out likely sex offenders. Criminal records can be checked from pax lists and wouldn't require questioning individually. I know that people travelling from NZ to Oz are often checked by NZ police for criminal records and the Australian immigration informed, which can lead to refusal of entry when the pax gets there.

They would never hold up a passenger long enough to miss a plane unless there was a major reason to do so. The cost to the airline, who has to remove baggage and consequently miss their slot, is enormous.

Up to the individual if they want to tell the police where to go, but wear your best undies on return because you will be displaying them to a lot of people over several hours when you re-enter the country.

[imaneggspurt]

Flying out from Manchester earlier this year, I was pulled aside and closely and seriously questioned about where I was going, where I lived, what was my business in Thailand, how much currency was I carrying, how was I funding my trip? It was a serious, close combat grilling.

When I had recovered enough from my total surprise at being verbally mugged like this to tell him I was a solicitor (even though I didn't look like one), he backed off, apolgised for delaying me and explained they were enforcing currency export regulations, which I knew was rubbish, but I was happy to be on my way.

Still I was seriously rattled for some time after it. Maybe that is what they try to do - to flush out people who they believe for whatever reason may have something to hide. But not many people have anything to hide on their way out from the UK, surely - except a huge sense of relief!

As a matter of interest how many pounds are you legally entitled to carry with you out of the UK?

In 2004 i was going through the scanner at departures into the lounge ( LHR ) and the alarm went off,i had a waist bag concealed, inside was an envelope ( sealed ) with 5k gbp inside, he asked mE to unzip the bag, saw the envelope and asked what was inside, i said 5k cash, he said ok ,..im not sure there is a limit out of the uk but rumor has it that its 10k.

[londonthai]

if they really wanted talk to you or your friend they would wait for you straith by exiting the airplane or by emmigration - when they swip your passport the red light comes and you are wisked away. You were not their interest and they let you through. Because you have stopped in the corridor they did realise your are waiting for your friend who was already stopped or probably he told them he was travelling with you (that's usually the second question, after "where are you flying from" - "are you travelling with somebody else").

most probably it was just a random check because of his suspicious look or behaviour or he was profiled as all passangers are actively watched on the plane, traith after leaving the plane down to the belts while waiting for luggage there are agents and survailance equipment.

if you do smuggle something you behave unusually and skilled officers are able to detect it

[imaneggspurt]

I was pulled in 2002 on the way into LHR and had 60 watches taken off me, i thought i would be on a hit list for further entry, NOTHING, never been stopped since,( over 40 trips ) weird,.

[ourmaninbangers]

Personally I would tell them to mind their own business.

yes, you can, especially in your own country, they can do nothing,

do not let anyone tell you any different

hold you a little, play games, have a card of a good lawyer and ask that all is recorded

they hate dealing with someone who know what they are doing

no need to be rude to them, they simply have no right to ask,well, receive answers and should not try and pretend otherwise,many do, thats what I hate

do not let anyone try and tell you any different

the same for that pathetic window dressing they sometimes do when flying to USA

who are you

what do you do

why are you here, why are you going to USA-

again, I refuse to answer, or just speak dutch( the simplest best way)

it is so ameteur, so lame its is almost a joke... and do they think it will stop anything at all?

they can in theory stop someone flying, and we can in theory hold the plane up so long that it would not be worth their while

do not let these big brother types take away your privacy

[MKAsok]

Hi all,

I use to get this problem getting pulled at Customs.

All I do now is pull out my Padi scuba diving card.

Argue with that?

Bye Officer.

Sean

Yeah, I often find it useful to pull out my Guns N' Roses Official Fan Club membership card if I'm ever stopped by UK customs and scream, "How do you like them apples fascist pig-dog?" That always works for me.

[bonobo]

Personally I would tell them to mind their own business.

yes, you can, especially in your own country, they can do nothing,

do not let anyone tell you any different

hold you a little, play games, have a card of a good lawyer and ask that all is recorded

they hate dealing with someone who know what they are doing

no need to be rude to them, they simply have no right to ask,well, receive answers and should not try and pretend otherwise,many do, thats what I hate

do not let anyone try and tell you any different

the same for that pathetic window dressing they sometimes do when flying to USA

who are you

what do you do

why are you here, why are you going to USA-

again, I refuse to answer, or just speak dutch( the simplest best way)

it is so ameteur, so lame its is almost a joke... and do they think it will stop anything at all?

they can in theory stop someone flying, and we can in theory hold the plane up so long that it would not be worth their while

do not let these big brother types take away your privacy

Either those few who feel the governments are taking over their lives are posting here in record numbers, or this is a common feleing and I am out of the loop.

I am all for personal rights and the right to privacy. But that hardly, to me, at least, means I can't answer a few basic questions, especially as in most of the cases reflected in this thread, names weren't even given.

If a customs or immigration officer in the US asks me why I was in Thailand, I find no fault in that. I just tell him and move on. I realize he or she is profiling, looking for a reaction, but quite frankly, in this day and age, I don't see profiling as that bad a thing (with a few celebrated excessive cases being the obvious exceptions.)

I always declare everything I carry back with me (I usually carry silk for a small OTOP-related side business I have), so I almost always get my luggage searched. OK, I can live with that. But I have never had a problem and the searches take less than 5 minutes.

I do think it is odd that all single men are being questions before leaving the UK. But even then, I would not refuse to answer. If they took my name down and started making computer entries based on my answer, I would be a little more concerned.

[bkkjames]

After much overnight thought (zzz) on the subject, I think I figured it out...

What they were really checking was to ensure the Thai-bound travellers had the following...

1) Tattoos

2) Shaved heads

3) Muscle shirts

4) Muay Thai underwear

5) Tranlastion to Thai for "Bloody Heck, Fly Off, Dik Head"

[zaza]

If you have nothing to hide or to be afraid of ;then let them accomplish their jobs efficiently.

[JimsKnight]

Personally I would tell them to mind their own business.

That is precisely the wrong attitude and one that will get you untold grief and the opportunity to come on this forum complaining about the police, the procedures, the coffee and just about everything. No matter how much you'd like to tell them that you have to remember these people in these times have the power and capability to <deleted> you upside down, inside out and back to front.

The best approach is to politely answer their questions exactly as asked, offer them no additional information and remain calm.

Yes you might consider this approach to be demeaning and an affront to your manhood but, given that the alternative might be a missed flight and a night in custody, it's worth putting up and shutting up.

Especially airport police - they have far reaching extra powers.

As a teenager I made the mistake of telling Gatwick police to fuk off and mind their own business... silly me... learning experience. You have no rights at British airports, local bylaws take them away!

That's pretty much how it is at international airports, you're in limbo and the magna carta laws (uk) are meaningless there.

I haven't been grilled yet but I've seen how fully armed with sub-machine guns, sidearms and taser pistols the police are very much para-militaries these days.

Police state is very much the way the PTB are going so expect more questions bs from the boys in blue.

Just play it like a game and answer their questions, get creative and start waffling about noi's buffalo farm in Nakhon Nowhere etc etc and watch how they'll soon lose interest

[mommysboy]

As a teenager I made the mistake of telling Gatwick police to fuk off and mind their own business... silly me... learning experience. You have no rights at British airports, local bylaws take them away!

No bloody respect these dam_n teenagers. None at all.

Even if you didn't like why they had questions, you do NOT have the right to to tell somebody trying to keep law and order to F-off. They have a difficult job to do without having to take this crap from a teenager. I hope they kept you overnight and gave you a big fine.

I wondered where Alf Garnet went.

[twschw]

If you have nothing to hide or to be afraid of ;then let them accomplish their jobs efficiently.

And if it escalates into a full body cavity search just let 'em do it right? If you have nothing to hide let 'em do anything they want.

[britmaveric]

Hmmm just tell them you are single, mate told a english bird customs officer and she just laffed. Off he went. Must admit bit odd before you go, but oh well.

Actually had my first secondary check when I came back to yankland - only assumption, I was flagged because of my trip to Cambodia. Can't see it was thailand? Prob should of asked - actually felt sorry for the agent, bags packed to brim - prob shaking his head why did he choose him? Actually did a pretty shi**y job if the truth be told. Even had a look at my piccies on my notebook, but think he got bored after rummaging through 1000 Angkor Wat piccies. Only assumption - looking for pedo(s).

[MyphuketLife]

While I don’t agree with their methods, it’s nice to see them trying to weed out the pedophiles. Although asking questions at the airport is in my opinion far less effective than arresting the scum bags that are selling the kids. If they did more to stop the scum selling kids, there would be less kids for sale, and in turn Thailand would attract less pedophiles.

If they never address the internal issue, nothing will ever really change... The pedophiles are going to go to whatever country kids are easily available... Take those same officers asking questions in the airport and put them to full time investigating and bringing justice to the people selling kids.

[WinnieTheKhwai]

So why do you horny bastards got to thailand? Climate, food, bicycle paths, etc?

If you not a paedophile or drug smuggler, whats the problem.

If they happen to catch one , its great. I bet some doofus will be caught with kiddie porn in his suitcase.

Right, they'd have that in their suitcase going TO Thailand..

Also, this being 2008, it is severely unlikely anyone would need to physically hold on to any kid of images, audio and/or video, other than their tunes for the flight.

[samuibeachcomber]

Hmmm just tell them you are single, mate told a english bird customs officer and she just laffed. Off he went. Must admit bit odd before you go, but oh well.

Actually had my first secondary check when I came back to yankland - only assumption, I was flagged because of my trip to Cambodia. Can't see it was thailand? Prob should of asked - actually felt sorry for the agent, bags packed to brim - prob shaking his head why did he choose him? Actually did a pretty shi**y job if the truth be told. Even had a look at my piccies on my notebook, but think he got bored after rummaging through 1000 Angkor Wat piccies. Only assumption - looking for pedo(s).

yes i guess so and if they found anything undesirable they'd still let you on the flight but inform thai immigration who would pick you up quick smart.cant blame them doing it,a sign of the times we live in.when returning to OZ after going through immigration and taking bags to customs check its then you see officers roaming all over the place asking questions of where have you come from what are you doing there etc etc,just pays to be polite and cooperative..........just big brother,1984 is now here.

[SeaVisionBurma]

I am Spartacus!!!

NO! I AM SPARTACUS!

[MKAsok]

I'm Brian and so's my wife...

[LooseCannon]

last week a friend of mine travelled to thailand from heathrow.

after the passport/boarding pass check at the gate , he was called aside by one of a group of 6 or 7 police officers and questioned as to why he was going to thailand , was he single or married , where would he be staying in thailand , had he been before etc.

all males on their own were called aside and similarly questioned.

after the questioning , he was given a "stop" form with his name , address , passport number and confirmation that he had been spoken to by the police officers.

he is a respectable looking chap , mid fifties and his wife was following him out to thailand the next day.

has anybody else encountered this , and any ideas why it happened.

In the News clippings section....

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Canadian-Liv...ed-t229889.html

Maybe looking for members of the tour group?

Life sentences with no possibility of parole in a stinking Thai jail would appropriate.

[yabaaaa]

I'm Brian and so's my wife...

No sign of "Wodney, Wodger or Woderwick" then?

[Kharzi]

As a matter of interest how many pounds are you legally entitled to carry with you out of the UK?

There is no limit.

But as I said in my previous post you are required to make a declaration to Customs if you are carrying cash in excess of 10,000 Euros or the equivalent and are entering or departing the UK from or to a non EU country. Failure to do so may result in a £5,000 fine. If you are unable to show satisfactorily the provenance of this money it may be impounded until evidence is produced. Cash may also be in the form of bearer bonds or banker's draft.

Little doggies are trained to sniff out wads of cash and operate wherever seems appropriate.

The notion that UK airports, airside or otherwise, are exempt from UK legislation and enforcement is just plain daft.

[Gravelrash]

last week a friend of mine travelled to thailand from heathrow.

after the passport/boarding pass check at the gate , he was called aside by one of a group of 6 or 7 police officers and questioned as to why he was going to thailand , was he single or married , where would he be staying in thailand , had he been before etc.

all males on their own were called aside and similarly questioned.

after the questioning , he was given a "stop" form with his name , address , passport number and confirmation that he had been spoken to by the police officers.

he is a respectable looking chap , mid fifties and his wife was following him out to thailand the next day.

has anybody else encountered this , and any ideas why it happened.

Yes, but are they taking the single women aside on African flights and questioning them?

[Maizefarmer]

Cops questioning single males at the airport (on arrival back home?): - strictly speaking I wouldn't have thought one is obliged to answer any question - but treat HM Customs & Excise in the UK (as distinct from the cops) with caution if you feel in unco-operative mood.

Customs have very broad search powers which they can, and do, exercise on the spot on a regular basis at airports without warrants - to include taking your laptop into a backroom to copy the disc contents, which could turn out embarrasing if not land one with a criminal case.

... and its not dirty pictures they are only interested in - it's your financial and business records that will interest them greatly, if not more so than dirty pic's.

And they are no mugs when it comes to asking what may sound like innocent questions: they do it day in day out and are very good at recognising the small signs that indicate something isn't right (individual eye movement, hand gestures, body language and all that ..... they're very good at).

Big Brother!