Newly-released figures show a 12% increase in the number of fines issued to hauliers found to be carrying illegal migrants on their vehicles. 

RHA Chief Executive Richard Burnett said, “These latest figures clearly show that the situation on the other side of the Channel is getting worse. We are getting regular reports from members making the Calais/Dover crossing that despite the ‘Jungle’ being dismantled last October, the number of migrants intent on reaching the UK is increasing. We advise all hauliers crossing the Channel to adhere to the Home Office advice regarding precautionary and safety measures.”  

“The situation has now escalated to the point where the frustration on the part of migrants and the ever-increasing number of violent attacks has reached the stage where the drivers themselves are, in effect, having to police their own vehicles to establish if a migrant incursion has occurred. This cannot be right. The Clandestine Civil Penalty scheme to tackle lax and careless operators was introduced in 1999 at a time when the number of illegal migrants heading towards the UK was considerably less. The playing field has now changed and we believe that the scheme is outdated and must be reviewed.” 

Concluding, Richard said, “Every day thousands of UK-bound hauliers are suffering because of the migrant mayhem at Calais. Unless President Macron takes strong and immediate action, the economy of the UK, France and the rest of mainland Europe will also suffer.” 

Photo: The situation with clandestines on the other side of the Channel is getting worse, says RHA.