LEGAL ULLET
Page 17
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The UK Immigration Service of the Home Office, following the discovery of illegal immigrants in or on a haulier's vehicle, will issue a notice of liability to civil penalty.
The notice is addressed to the driver, owner, operator or hirer of the vehicle/ trailer. It specifies the vehicle and trailer identification number.
The notice will give reasons for their decision as to why liability to a penalty arises, for example:
"On 23 May 2001 at Dover docks a transporter was found by an immigration officer to contain a total of three persons concealed within it, each person being a clandestine entrant or person concealed with a clandestine entrance. The transporter arrived in the United Kingdom from France on the SS Save Our Souls."
The Secretary of State has determined a penalty of £2,000 for each person, so in this example L6,000 would be demanded.
Payment must be made within Go days from the date of service of the notice. If there is more than one person responsible for payment of the fine, for example, the owner and hirer of a vehicle, then payment is required within Go days of the notice being served on the first such person.
If a person objects to the payment of the penalties, then within 30 days of the service of notice he must send a written objection to the Secretary of State setting out the reasons why the person feels he is not liable to the penalty. Failure to send the notice within 30 days will mean that the penalty stands.