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Is this a thinly veiled cash grab? Otherwise, what actual problem does this solve?

drstewart 4y ago
No: it's not thinly veiled.
mellosouls 4y ago
From the article: The government says the ETA scheme will strengthen border security...[clip]...under current rules it does not have wholly accurate data on the number of people entering and leaving the country.
- mistrial9 4y ago
  the CTO of Starbucks stood on stage (pre-covid) in a small setting and told everyone "actually, we do not know how many people work at Starbucks right now" .. dramatic pause.. the explanation is that pending resignation, pending dismissal, no-show, hiring pipeline, even whole stores opening and closing.. means that the EXACT number is not known, but there is state.. and bounds to that state. It was a dramatic way to talk about the inherent difficulty of precise numbers in a very large and active enterprise. So, relate that to the state of border control of an entire nation, and you get the idea..
- Broken_Hippo 4y ago
  Which seems... Ridiculous. It provides "border security" in the way TSA provides airport security: By showing theater to make certain folks feel better. As far as the number of people: Flights have record of who is on them, and generally require a passport for international travel (even though there are open borders between EU countries). I've not taken a train internationally, but I'd imagine something similar exists there - or can exist, anyway. It doesn't really cover folks driving (Which would make their numbers different), but I suppose there are less routes into the UK by car.
- madeofpalk 4y ago
  I'm confused how they don't have the accurate numbers. To enter the UK you need to go through Border Patrol, either via a automated gate (where they can count you) or via a person at a booth (where they can count you). If you can't get accurate numbers from that, how would an online form change that?
  - dazc 4y ago
    There are lots of small airports where there are Border Patrol staff but I don't think they are counting people in and out as part of any organised and uniform system? Take, for example, recent industrial action where striking staff were replaced with armed forces. Apparently, the system ran incredibly smoothly but I don't doubt a lot of the everyday bureaucracy was overlooked at the same time.
  - switch007 4y ago
    > To enter the UK you need to go through Border Patrol Not in every case. Eg arrivals from Ireland. Also I think it’s been politically motivated to hide behind the lie of it being difficult or impossible to count the number of immigrants in the country. Various people/groups believe the UK population is vastly underreported
Broken_Hippo 4y ago
Otherwise, what problem does this solve? It makes those on the right who cry about immigration feel a bit better and makes for good security theater.
refurb 4y ago
It’s basically “visa light”. You pay a small amount and an automated background check happens. If you fail that you go through the full visa process. It’s basically pre-screening before you even show up at the border.

No: it's not thinly veiled.

From the article: The government says the ETA scheme will strengthen border security...[clip]...under current rules it does not have wholly accurate data on the number of people entering and leaving the country.

mistrial9 4y ago
the CTO of Starbucks stood on stage (pre-covid) in a small setting and told everyone "actually, we do not know how many people work at Starbucks right now" .. dramatic pause.. the explanation is that pending resignation, pending dismissal, no-show, hiring pipeline, even whole stores opening and closing.. means that the EXACT number is not known, but there is state.. and bounds to that state. It was a dramatic way to talk about the inherent difficulty of precise numbers in a very large and active enterprise. So, relate that to the state of border control of an entire nation, and you get the idea..
Broken_Hippo 4y ago
Which seems... Ridiculous. It provides "border security" in the way TSA provides airport security: By showing theater to make certain folks feel better. As far as the number of people: Flights have record of who is on them, and generally require a passport for international travel (even though there are open borders between EU countries). I've not taken a train internationally, but I'd imagine something similar exists there - or can exist, anyway. It doesn't really cover folks driving (Which would make their numbers different), but I suppose there are less routes into the UK by car.
madeofpalk 4y ago
I'm confused how they don't have the accurate numbers. To enter the UK you need to go through Border Patrol, either via a automated gate (where they can count you) or via a person at a booth (where they can count you). If you can't get accurate numbers from that, how would an online form change that?
- dazc 4y ago
  There are lots of small airports where there are Border Patrol staff but I don't think they are counting people in and out as part of any organised and uniform system? Take, for example, recent industrial action where striking staff were replaced with armed forces. Apparently, the system ran incredibly smoothly but I don't doubt a lot of the everyday bureaucracy was overlooked at the same time.
- switch007 4y ago
  > To enter the UK you need to go through Border Patrol Not in every case. Eg arrivals from Ireland. Also I think it’s been politically motivated to hide behind the lie of it being difficult or impossible to count the number of immigrants in the country. Various people/groups believe the UK population is vastly underreported

Broken_Hippo 4y ago

Otherwise, what problem does this solve? It makes those on the right who cry about immigration feel a bit better and makes for good security theater.

refurb 4y ago

It’s basically “visa light”. You pay a small amount and an automated background check happens. If you fail that you go through the full visa process. It’s basically pre-screening before you even show up at the border.