EU citizens stopped at ports by UK post-Brexit

British border officials stopped and questioned EU citizens, which more than 60% of them appeared to be from Romania, according to figures.

 Data issued by the government shows that in the first six months of the year 7,249 people were stopped either at ferry ports or on Eurotunnel and Eurostar vehicle and train services.

The figures represent a fivefold increase in the same period in 2020 when free movement between EU member states remained in place for all who were legitimately seeking work in another country.

Data issued by the government shows that in the first six months of the year 7,249 people were stopped either at ferry ports or on Eurotunnel and Eurostar vehicle and train services.

Of those stopped in the first six months of 2021, 4,482 were from Romania, dwarfing the figures for neighboring Bulgaria, from which 600 nationals were stopped, and the 400 questioned from Poland.

Nationals from northern European countries were barely hit by the new immigration controls, with just five Danish people stopped, 59 from Belgium and 144 from France challenged by border officials.

Some lawyers have raised the issue of possible racial profiling; however, the government denied any race bias at the border. “The claim that we have been racially profiling is false and unwarranted,” said a Home Office spokesperson.