Wednesday 23rd June
Operation Stack. I like the name."Another important issue to address is when flows through the Channel Tunnel or Dover are disrupted, creating the need to park lorries on the M20 ('Operation Stack'). Disruptions can be caused by extreme weather conditions, operational problems such as the Eurotunnel fire in 1997, but more often they are caused by French workers going on strike and blockading the French end of the Channel Tunnel and the French ports. This procedure is extremely disruptive to both international and local travellers as sections of the M20 are closed to through traffic to park the lorries heading to Dover and Cheriton, and local roads become highly congested. Alternative parking facilities are required when these incidents occur, but the Government appears reluctant to provide resources to resolve this matter."
An officer writes:
'Not a confession, but a story from Kent Police. Don't publish my name, as they'll think it was me that did it! I swear it was nothing to do with me!
Kent Police has a contingency plan for all the lorries using the cross-channel ports when the other side are striking. It's called Op Stack - well known locally. Anyway, it involves Traffic doing a rolling road block on the M-20 and closing it down to a large lorry park between a numebr of junctions. All other traffic is directed off the motorway.
On one occasion, a particular constable was sitting in their car when they piped up on the county radio, "I'M BORED." A number of minutes went past with no further comment and the same constable stated ont he county system again, "I'M BORED." More time passed and a third time, the constable, by now sitting in his car for a considerable length of time, piped up on the county system, "I'M BORED."
At this the duty inspector in the Force Control Room got on the radio, "THIS IS THE DUTY INSPECTOR. LAST CALLER IDENTIFY YOURSELF." A pause was considered and the constable replied, "I SAID I WAS BORED NOT FUCKING STUPID."'
