Stowaways 'better at avoiding checks'
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by Charles Young Haiaiers are claiming it is getting more difficuit to check for the presence of illegal immigrants in trucks, only months before the launch of fines for those caught with stowaways.
The immigrants are becoming more confident and can now be found roaming the ferries— they used to hide away in the trucks until they reached their destination.
International owner-driver Simon Sargent is concerned that illegal immigrants will climb into different trucks, forcing hauliers to carry out yet more checks.
Last week Sargent says he saw at least 15 immigrants wandering around the drivers' area on a P&O ferry from Zeebrugge to Dover.
He alerted the captain and the immigrants were handed over to the authorities in Dover.
A spokesman for P&O confirms that the company handed over 13 Kurds and two So Lankans. But Sargent fears they could have climbed into his truck while on board, making him liable for a £2,000-perimmigrant fine.
"I've never seen so many wandering around," he says. "We can't keep up with it—it's all going to come down or the clover in the end."
The fines are due to start in April, although hauliers caught with stowaways should be able to avoid them if they can show they have adhered to a Code of practice. This requires drivers to check their trailer roofs just before boarding a ferry and then "regularly en route to the UK...particularly after stops when unattended".
Sargent fears it is only when the fines are enforced that hauliers will find out just how much checking is required to keep themselves out of trouble.