Got stopped three times at Heathrow today
Hi all.
I was coming back on a flight from Barbados to LHR this morning. After we got off the plane, while I was walking together with all the other passengers, a security person pulled me aside and started asking questions about where I came from (on my flight), what I did there, what do I do for work etc. I answered the questions and then also politely asked why I was singled out for questioning; he told me that they try to speak to as many people as possible.
Literally 10-15 meters later, I was stopped by another security person who started asking the same questions. I quickly told her that I already spoke to her colleague, 1 minute ago. I also asked why I was pulled aside again (as they didn’t seem to pull aside anyone else, or maybe only a few people), and whether I look “suspicious or something”. She told me to move along, so I did.
After I picked up my luggage and was exiting via the standard “no goods to declare” exit, I was stopped again by another security officer. I mentioned to her that this was the third time since arriving that I had been asked to answer these questions. She apologised, but proceeded to ask them again. I answered again, although I must have looked irritated, given than I hadn’t slept at all and I was exhausted.
I’ve been pulled aside once in the past by a Eurostar officer, but never at any airport, UK or otherwise, and I have been travelling a lot.
Is this a new thing at Heathrow, does anyone know? And why was I pulled aside three times? Not that it should matter, but I am very much white, and there isn’t anything particularly noteworthy about my appearance. I was not born in the UK but I’ve lived here for almost 10 years now. I will also soon be a UK citizen (pending my ceremony).