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Foreign drivers carrying majority of stowaways

30th April 2009, Page 9
30th April 2009
Page 9
Page 9, 30th April 2009 — Foreign drivers carrying majority of stowaways
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By Joanna Bourke ALMOST NINE OUT of 10 truck drivers fined in 2008 for harbouring stowaways in their lorries were foreign-registered, UK Border Agency (UKBA) statistics reveal.

In 2008, 1,571 non-UK HGV drivers were fined after illegal immigrants were found hiding in their lorries, compared to 195 British truckers just 11% of the total.

The fines account for a total of 28.000 stowaways caught attempting to enter the UK via HGVs last year.

The figures were released under the Freedom of Information Act and collated using locally sourced management data, a UKBA spokeswoman tells CM.

Currently, a company and driver can receive a maximum combined fine of £4,000 per clandestine entrant carried if it cannot be proved that the operator has an effective preventive system in place. The UKBA collected more than £1.5m in fines during 2008.

According to figures from the Department for Transport, between October and December 2008. only 15% of trucks that were travelling between Britain and Continental Europe were UK-registered.

UKBA adds that it will pursue all unpaid debts.


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