The terrifying proposals, which are reportedly being considered by Prime Minister Theresa May, would require anyone crossing the border to register in advance to avoid checks. Anyone who doesn’t register would have to use the “approved” crossings or else be considered to have crossed the border illegally. 

The proposals come from the ‘Smart Border 2.0’ report, which was commissioned by an EU parliamentary committee and which it is understood Theresa May has asked her officials to consider. It proposes using both physical and digital infrastructure to man the post-Brexit border. 

This includes having CCTV on all border crossings as well as the aforementioned “Trusted Traveller Programme” which would require the pre-registration for “fast-track” movement across the border, and may also include the use of “biometric” passports or driving licenses that would use radio frequency identification. 

There has been strong opposition to the plan, including from An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who rejected it outright at the weekend, and by former Secretary of State Peter Hain, who said implementing it “would be risking immediate civil unrest.” 

Locally, Sinn Fein MLA Jemma Dolan called the plans “nonsense.” 

“The latest suggestions from the British government on dealing with the border post-Brexit are nonsense,” said the Belleek woman. “The British government have already committed to avoid hardening of the borer and avoiding physical infrastructure in the joint agreement in December.

She added: “In areas such as Fermanagh and South Tyrone our economy is based on tourism and agriculture. Any checks or delays on the border would have a negative impact on the economy.