Heathrow passport queues 'out of control'

Passport control is a nuisance for most holiday makers, but the queues at Heathrow have become "unacceptably long" in the past few days, owner BAA has said.

BAA warned: "The Home Office should be delivering a good experience for regular passengers as well as Olympic visitors."

These comments came after home affairs committee chairman Keith Vaz visited Heathrow and was horrified to find immigration queues of more than an hour for non-EU passengers at terminal four, with more than half of the passport desks closed.

BAA replied that the passport desks were properly staffed, with the longest queue being less than an hour, at 56 minutes.

It said in a statement: "Immigration is a matter for the Home Office. The Home Office has said that from July 15th all Border Force desks at Heathrow will be open during peak Olympic arrival periods."

Mr Vaz promised to raise the issue with immigration minister Damian Green, pointing out that he promised additional resources and better management two months ago.

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