Would police really check all airports to see if someone has left the country?

Question

Someone on my family has been wanted for questioning by the police about a minor offence. CID has come to ask me about the whereabouts of that family member. As far as I know the person has gone abroad and that's what I said. 
CID has now left me a card with a phone number to call and when I called it, I was told that police checked all UK airports to see if that person really left the country or not. Would they really do it for a MINOR offence or was he blagging me to see if I'd say anything else? Just being curious about it?!!

capt_kilbride · Accepted Answer

The answer is yes, i spent 6 years in the police and have seen it done over a speeding ticket (person said they were out of the country, so became perverting the course of justice) every person entering and leaving the country through legal ways are recorded, a couple of phone calls and the police know if someone entered/left the country.

ƒαηтαѕтι¢ ☞CAT☜ · Answer

I doubt CID would be involved for a 'minor crime'. Maybe they're looking to investigate something bigger. They would also be able to see straight away on a customs database if that person was in or out the country. If they're in Europe then a European Arrest Warrant can be issued to bring them back to the country for investigation.

? · Answer

they can check airport databases to see if he has left the country, but they wouldnt know if he left via the eurostar or eurotunnel or ferry.

you can buy a eurostar ticket in any name. the ticket is just used to get through the gates and onto the train. once inside they check your passport to see if it is valid but that is all they check it for. in theory your relative could buy a ticket in the name of joe bloggs just to get into the boarding area and then show his passport to border control officials. they never ever check the passport with the ticket at the same time to see if the names match. there will be no record that your relative left the country, only a record of joe bloggs buying a ticket. 

its the same if he takes the ferry.

Anonymous · Answer

According to the Jason Bourne films, as soon as he handed one of his passports in at the desk, an alarm went of in Treadstone headquarters and Pamela Landy was informed immediately - via something called 'The Grid'

so maybe your relative will pop up on the grid, and the detective will fly out to intercept him and bring him in to be de-programmed.

Remember if you tell a deliberate lie to mislead, you could be 'aiding an offender'.  So stick to saying you gave the info you believed to be correct - yeah I bet he was blagging.

reliant · Answer

The answer is definitely not due to lack of Manpower and time

Anonymous · Answer

i'm curious did you really mean to say some one 'on' your family or was that a typo?

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Would police really check all airports to see if someone has left the country?

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