Raw deals abroad
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I was totally appalled to see two news I items following hard upon each other in recent issues of Commercial Motor.
The experience of Andy Holt in being held for 27 hours by the French police after reporting suspected people smuggling does incalculable damage to trucker raw enforcement authority co-operation in Europe and to the drive against smugglers (CM 19-25 Feb).
Both British and world Customs acknowledge that the assistance of the industry is invaluable in the fight against crime. In your last issue the monstrous treatment of David Fry in custody again does nothing to help the anti-crime relationship (CM 26 Feb-4 Mar). His treatment was outrageous and in total breach of the European Convention on Human Rights. We trust the French authorities will investigate and prosecute the perpetrators on his complaint. Drivers should know that we, the United Road Transport Union and employers' representatives are hoping to hold a conference, perhaps later this year or early next year, in order to examine the entire problem of truckers, smuggling and police and judicial co-operation. Stephen Jakobi, The Fair Trials Abroad Trust, Richmond, Surrey.