Border Security: Australia's Front Line

Enjoyed this for a while but there are only so many times you can watch Chinese people with food in their suitcase before you say enough, with me it was 532 and when people with whole suitcases get the same fine as a forgotten apple you know it's a money making scheme not border security.

This periodic reality series - screening on Network Seven - chronicles the work of Australia's Customs and Quarantine personnel in intercepting suspicious persons or goods entering through Australia's airports.

Filmed largely at Sydney Airport, each show presents a motley crew of suspicious or randomly-selected persons being subjected to an elaborative and thorough screening process. Some are puzzled, others violently indignant: some are well presented, others conspicuously disheveled and inarticulate. We see all kinds of cases: those who have innocently omitted to make certain declarations, those making attempts at mass drug imports, or visitors on 'Tourist Visas' in reality seeking to enter the country for the purposes of work.

Whether BORDER SECURITY contributes to the Australian public's fear of foreigners, or panders to stereotyped views of the typical immigrant, the viewer will have to decide for themselves. The show itself is both entertaining and informative, and portrays those devoted to protecting our borders as being very thorough, and diligently aware of the nefarious tricks incoming passengers play. (The show certainly makes you wonder how much went undetected in the days before narcotic residue machines though!)

Great TV. Great entertainment. Very cheap to make and makes people aware. If you think you are clever, there are an awful lot of people cleverer than you. It's all been seen and done before, nothing new under the sun. The one thing that worries me is the lack of clean tools used by the customs officers. There seems to be a distinct possibility of cross contamination. Sure, the TV program shows those caught but what happened to those not shown in the TV? The street drug test kits have gained a certain notoriety in the USA (for giving false positives). I hope the Australian government pays for good kits. As they are so sensitive all tools should be absolutely clean. One thing that worried me recently was a computer (admittedly concealing card skimmers) that was opened with the screwdriver in a pen knife! Having had cause to open various electronic items I know that using the wrong tool can bugger the screws holding something together.

Thi programme itself is quite well made but tends to think its viewers are under the age of ten and so go into ridiculous and annoying repetition.

What does stand out is the over aggressive pursuit of drug mules. It seems that as soon as an officer suspects ANY passenger of being involved in drugs they go all the way to prove their beliefs.

The officers all seem to have been trained in the art of belittling people and intimidation.

This is a brilliant advertisement for NOT going to Australia.

They should check out Americas Gatekeepers to see how it's done.

One wonders why the customs dept don't employ more Chinese speakers on the frontline. Also why airlines originating from China don't show landing videos in Chinese.