We're not debating statistical trends here, so blanket dismissals of "anecdotes" are themselves pretty useless. I was sharing my experience. Maybe you happened to be passing by while they were on their tea break, I don't know. I'm going again in a few weeks so will be interested to see if both booths are still functioning.

The UK introduced exit checks in 8 April 2015. My anecdote is from travel before then, yours after.

Discussion-by-anecdote is pointless without dates etc, and a waste of time when it's easy enough to find the policy: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/exit-checks-on-pa...