Passengers could see long delays as confusion reigns over the new exit checks intended to come into force today at Kent ports.

The Port of Dover announced early yesterday it would be performing exit checks from this morning, but later said the information had been wrong, and referred all queries to the Home Office.

Port authorities tweeted a message this morning, warning people to have their passport or ID card to hand in preparation for the new measures.

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There are fears the exit checks, which mean ferry companies will have to put every passport through a scanner to provide an electronic record, could slow traffic through Kent's ports.

This in turn could see queues building up outside the ports bringing the transport system to a standstill and causing delays to passengers and freight.

There is uncertainty over how prepared the ports are for the new checks.

Yesterday the Home Office seemed to soften its stance and announced it would allow a 'phased approach' of the new procedures.

A spokesman said: "Due to the different environments and scale of operations at ports, delivery approaches will vary.

"The Home Office has worked with carriers and ports to allow them to introduce exit checks in a way that aligns with their existing systems, including taking a phased approach at some ports, to help minimise the impact on customers and on port operations.”

This morning, P&O Ferries tweeted to say the new exit checks were coming into force today, and advised passengers to have their passports or national identity cards ready for inspection.

Video: Eurotunnel's John Keefe explains the new exit checks

Eurotunnel has been preparing for the new checks for several months, and has constructed a coach hall, employed 50 new staff and refurbished several old buildings in order to accommodate the new procedures.

Overall the firm says it has spent more than £2 million on preparations.

Spokesman John O'Keefe said: "Introducing anything that slows the traffic trough the border carries some risk with it.

"It'll add a little bit of time to people's journeys. But we've put in the infrastructure that's needed but now it's up to people to do their bit.

"That's filling in advanced passsnger info, turning up in time for their departure, and having their passport in their hand when they turn up at the booth.

"If a passport is in boot, that's a big problem."

"We're a vehicle-based system, and we have an approach that takes one car through the system. Our transaction is with that car, not its occupants.

"A car may be carrying five people, a coach may be carrying 60, so our transaction times go up exponentially."

Mr O'Keefe said Eurotunnel would like to see better data sharing between British and French border authorities to make the process more efficient.

In a statement on its website, the Port of Dover said it was committing extra resources to manage traffic in Dover on the approaches to the Eastern Docks, and asked people to have their documentation to hand.

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