Passengers from EEA countries are not subject to the same security checks as other passengers ,indeed it is set in the Immigration regulations 2006 that passengers from EEA countries should only be questioned when there is strong evidence that the passenger could be refused admission on the grounds of public policy,
public health or public security.In short there is an entire 31 page document stating that EEA passengers are treated differently to other passengers .By removing the EEA gates all passengers will be subject to the same checks ,might be slower but so what ,if it prevents would be terrorists entering the UK
IMMIGRATION DIRECTORATES' INSTRUCTIONS
4.2 Examination of EEA nationals
Pursuant to Schedule 2 powers transposed into the EEA Regulations (see paragraph 3) it is
appropriate for immigration officers to establish that a person seeking admission as an EEA
national is in possession of a valid national ID card or passport issued by an EEA state.
However, beyond this an EEA national should only be questioned where there is strong
reason to believe that there may be reasons to refuse admission on grounds of public policy,
public health or public security, including when the EEA national is subject to an extant
JULY 06 IDIs Ch 7 Sec 3 EEA Nationals & Family
Members
9
deportation order.
Otherwise strict limits have been placed on the immigration officer's
examination of EEA nationals; as a result of judgments in the ECJ an immigration officer
may not require an EEA national to answer questions regarding the purpose and duration of
his journey or the financial means available to him (unless such information is relevant to the
right of admission of any non-EEA family members).