Soldiers to be trained to check passports amid UK fears of summer travel chaos

Exclusive: Unions say move will diminish national security, with temporary staff unable to detain suspected terrorists

Hundreds of soldiers and sailors are to be trained from Monday to cover striking Border Force guards, as ministers prepare for a potential summer of chaos at ports and airports, the Guardian can reveal.

In a move which unions say will diminish security at UK ports, members of the armed forces will be given five days’ training before checking passports at Heathrow, Gatwick and Dover.