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Continental hauliers get ready for immigrant row

18th May 2000, Page 5
18th May 2000
Page 5
Page 5, 18th May 2000 — Continental hauliers get ready for immigrant row
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• by Sally Nash Speculation is growing that the French, Belgian and Dutch transport trade unions are preparing to take action in protest over the growing problem of illegal immigrants.

As CMwent to press reports were circulating that drivers are planning strikes or blockades. A spokesman for the French trade association FNTR says: "Some drivers and unions want action and there is a rumour of a possible blockade."

In the latest incident to fuel truckers' anger a freight forwarder has been fined £28,000 after one of its hired trailers was found to have 14 illegal immigrants on board.

Hoddesdon-based AMK had hired out a trailer to Buxton

based haulier SJ Freight; immigration officials discovered 14 stowaways in the trailer as it entered the UK at Dover.

The Home Office says that only one party has to pay the fine in cases where the-vehicle owner, operator and driver are all held liable. AMK and SJ Freight have both been fined because the Home Office considers them "jointly liable", but they are appealing against the fine, which is described as a "bloody cheek" by a spokeswoman for AMK.

"I think the people that make these rules don't really know what they are doing," she adds.

SJ Freight transport manager Jack Ford warns that the business will have to close if the company fails to win its appeal. "There are no ifs, buts or maybes about closing," says Ford. "We were struggling anyway. The driver followed all the guidelines and there is nothing more he could have done," And major leasing firm TIP Europe has been hit with another .210,000 fine after five stowaways were found on one of its trailers.

The company had already been hit with an £8,000 penalty after four illegal immigrants were found on a trailer hired by JP Trans (Cit94-10 May).

See Editor's Comment, page 4.

• According to the Freight Transport Association the French have stationed an extra 90 police in Calais and the surrounding area to crack down on illegal immigrants.

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Locations: Hoddesdon

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