Just nine passengers detained at Heathrow during Border Force strike

Figure compares with 189 during same three days of 2021, but detentions at Manchester airport rose slightly

The number of passengers detained for further checks at the UK’s busiest airport plummeted in the run-up to Christmas after the armed services were asked to cover for striking Border Force staff, leaked figures show.

Just nine people were stopped at passport control and held at Heathrow over three strike days from 23 to 25 December, compared with 189 people over the same three days in 2021 – a 95% drop.