Truckers promised a sa
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by David Craik
Truckers have been promised the chance to tell the Government face to face what they think of plans to fine them £2,000 and impound their trucks if they are found to have wittingly brought illegal immigrants into the UK (CM1117 Feb).
Danny Bryan of the Transport & General Workers Union says Home Office minister Mike O'Brien has "personally sought" a meeting with drivers who regularly make trips to the Continent, to hear their experiences with the problem of stowaways.
The meeting will be held at the T&O's Transport House HQ on 18 May. Bryan says: "Drivers will tell O'Brien about the practical problems around this issue.
The Government is revising its stow away legislation, which is designed to deal with illegal
immigrants entering UK ports in the backs of HCVs.
O'Brien originally planned to hit drivers and operators with fines of £2,000 per stowaway. Following pressure from trade bodies and CM, who explained that in most cases drivers were blameless, the plans were changed to protect drivers who could prove they had shown due diligence.
Checkpoints will be set up at major ports to help drivers examine their vehicles.
We will be talking about a code of practice for drivers to follow which will enable them to be protected from the fines," says Bryan.