The civil enalties scheme is to be reviewed by the government. The scheme raised £6.6m in fines last year, punishing truck drivers who were carrying illegal immigrants. The plans to improve the scheme have been welcomed by the FTA
The government are working with the freight industry in order to put a stop to illegal immigration and the FTA is pleased to see that. Currently, HGV drivers that are caught with illegal immigrants on-board their vehicles are fined up to £2,000 per person. In the summer of 2015, it was estimated that around 40 illegal immigrants were entering Dover a day.
Swannells – Haulage Companies in Cambridgeshire
The Home Office has said that it will now use the civil penalty to improve the behaviours of the careless and the reckless. The civil penalty regime will be strengthened so that the codes of practices underline the need for all drivers to show that they have the correct security measures – with potential penalties if they don’t.
When speaking about the plans to improve the civil penalties scheme, the FTA’s Manager of Road Freight Enforcement, Chris Yarsley, had this to say:
“FTA is pleased to see the Government working with our industry in an effort to try and combat illegal immigration. Following the mass migration in to the EU over the past year we welcome the opportunity to revise the charging regime so that it incentivises operators to better secure their vehicles and could offer possible benefits for those who go further than the required minimum.”
He continued:
“The levels of penalties have not been amended for over 10 years and vehicle security technologies have improved immensely so it is now time to look at the entirety of the scheme.”
Swannells – General Haulage Specialists – Haulage Companies in Cambridgeshire
The FTA have been involved in discussions with the government for some time now and they are in regular contact with the Border Force to try and keep constant communication between both sides.
Last summer, around 40 illegal immigrants were attempting to enter the UK and many of these were from the ‘Jungle Camp’ in Calais. More than 3,600 were picked up by the Home Office between July and September 2015.