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Fines deter Continentals...
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• Haulage associations throughout Europe have warned that their members are abandoning cross-Channel work because of the UK government's policy of fining hauliers for carrying stowaways.
The warning came following a meeting of trade associations organised by the Road Haulage Association and attended by representatives from France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. It was called to marshal their opposition to the British government's controversial proposals in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill whsch will double the level of fines for hauliers found with illegal immigrants on their trucks to £4,000 a head ( CM29 Aug-4 Sept).
Michael Reul, from the Belgian organisation FEBETRA, says: Some of our members are very afraid about coming to Britain because of the fines. They are also worried that It is very difficult to prove that you have taken proper measures—if you are found with an illegal immigrant then it )ves that you haven't been teful enough."
His comments were rmed by French delegate ;dues-Henri Garban of the TRI: "At first it was just the le companies refusing to )ss the Channel after April DO [when the original fines re introduced]. But then all es of company started to 'use as well."
He says that one firm which Is around 70 trucks stopped UK-bound work when one of its vehicles was stopped at Dover with six stowaways on board.
German representative Dr Alex Shindler adds that in many cases East European companies are taking over this work.
RHA chief executive Roger King says the association will continue to press the UK government to accept CO2 checks as an absolute defence (CM 29 August-4 Sept).
He adds that the industry would be happy to pay for the use of scanners at ports, provided the government pays for their installation.