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It's criminal: Foreign firms et away with law-breaking
Page 4
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• by Dominic Perry Shocking new figures reveal that huge numbers of foreign hauliers are beating our justice system because the authorities find it too difficult to prosecute them.
The figures emerged in response to a written question from Deeside MP Mark Tami to transport minister David Jamieson; it revealed that only 26 foreign operators were prosecuted for traffic or roadworthiness offences last year. Even more shockingly, while the number of foreign trucks on British roads has soared— around 10,000 on the UK's roads every day, according to Freight Transport Association estimates—the number of prosecutions has dropped by almost 33% year on year, from 49 in 2000 to just 33 In 2001. In comparisonjust over 14,000 UK operators and drivers were convicted last year.
Both YOSA and the Department for Transport admit the figures are low. A DET spokeswoman says: "The main issue is that it's very difficult to get foreign hauliers into court. The CPS has told the police not to arrest foreign drivers and bring cases before court. We find it very hard to get them to turn up, and they rarely pay the fines.
"You can't arrest or detain the drivers, because we don't do that to British drivers."
She adds that the DfT and Home Office are planning the introduction of on-the-spot fines for offences or forcing them to pay a deposit towards any future court fine. However, she could not give a timeframe for its introduction.
Even the Traffic Commissioners have complained over their lack of power to target foreign firms. In last year's annual report. Welsh IC David Dixon confirmed: "Any British haulier whose drivers disconnect speed limiters is dealt with firmly... A foreign haulier doing the same merely receives a delayed prohibition, which has no effect if the vehicle leaves the country before rectification is required."
Maidstone-based John Seymour Transport is on the front line of this foreign invasion and witnesses regular incidents on the M20. Managing director Hugh Thompson blasts: "fm not surprised by the small number; it's a sad indictment of the system that we are currently operating. It needs to change as quickly as possible.
"You sometimes see a foreign truck parked up next to a police car and just a little way along is poor old Mrs Jones who is wondering where half of her car has gone."
Thompson believes the authorities need to change the system urgently in order to provide a level playing field. He adds: "We have to be very careful in the UK. We've got a damn good record going back 30 years but we find it harder and harder to remain inside the law. On-the-spot fines are a great idea—it works on the Continent, so why not hem?"