AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

FTA meets Straw to discuss port checks

24th August 2000
Page 7
Page 7, 24th August 2000 — FTA meets Straw to discuss port checks
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

II The Freight Transport Association was due to meet the Home Secretary Jack Straw yesterday (23 August) to discuss better checks for immigrants at foreign ports.

The FTA had pushed for the meeting since Straw visited Dover last April and blamed hauliers for allowing illegal immigrants into their trucks.

The FTA doubts the effectiveness of new checks offered by the Calais Chamber of Commerce. It points out that although the number of immigrants caught in Calais has gone up, the number found in Dover has remained constant since the fines were introduced last April.

Meanwhile one international driver who was knifed by a group of illegal immigrants insists that violent attacks are being swept under the carpet, with transport firms scared of putting their contracts at risk from the publicity.

Dave Morales was hospi talised in Spain following the recent knifing in Morocco. He knows of a UK driver whose arm was broken after being attacked by a stowaway with a bar and another who recently had his hand slashed.

"There is a catalogue of incidents each week," says Morales. "Nobody will do anything until an English driver is killed."

The Road Haulage Association has heard of half-adozen attacks against drivers but admits that it may not know the whole story.


comments powered by Disqus