Stowaway fines anger industry
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by Karen Miles • Both the main road transport trade associations are at loggerheads with the Government over the Home Secretary's plan to fine truck drivers £2,000 for each illegal immigrant they bring into the country.
In a rare show of anger and defiance, the Freight Transport Association warns that Jack Straw risks "losing the co-operation of the transport industry which is itself the biggest victim of the problem". The FTA will fight his plans, doing everything it can to "stop the legislation going through".
This sentiment is echoed by the Road Haulage Association, which warns that if the fine is introduced drivers will be tempted to release stowaways without telling the authorities.
Straw told the News of the World that he was pressing ahead with the plan to fine drivers, alleging that some are doing it for financial gain.
Following a meeting in October with Home Office Minister Mike O'Brien the FTA and RHA believed they had overturned plans for these fines. They then initiated a joint package of proposals that the Government and industry could pursue to alleviate the problem.
A Home Office spokesman says the fines provide a fallback solution and hauliers will be able to argue mitigating circumstances. He adds that trials of bodyscanning devices on trailers have not proved successful: the Home Office believes that sniffer dogs are just as effective.
Airlines, ferries and the Channel Tunnel operator Eurotunnel are all subject to the fines under carriers' liability legislation.