Q I have been reading a great deal lately about the
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use of forged journey permits for Continental journeys and understand that there is, at present, a Bill before Parliament to reduce the incidence of forged permits. There is surely something wrong with the issue and delivery of legitimate permits. What is the present procedure and cannot it be improved? A At present, international journey permits are issued from the International Road Freight Office at Low Friar Street, Newcastle upon Tyne. Obviously, established inter national hauliers ha v e claimed the bulk of those permits which are available and newcomers stand little chance of obtaining permits till they have had an application before the authorities for some time and spare permits become available.
Like many illegal activities, the market in forged permits thrives because of this shortage and because unscrupulous operators are willing to use permits which do not come into their possession through the normal channels.
However, the use of forged permits might be prevented, at least in part, if the permits were not sent direct from the issuing office to the operator's office but addressed to a DoE official at the port of exit. These could be handed to the relevant driver at that point immediately before he leaves the UK. In this way, the driver would be assured that his permit was not forged, especially if this was the only way in which delivery of a permit could be taken.