Drivers caught with stowaways in their trucks face fines of £16,000
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The first two drivers to be caught under the Home Office's new "civil penalty" scheme for carrying stowaways face fines totalling £16,000 this week after being caught at Dover with illegal immigrants on board.
On the morning after the controversial new legislation came into force, immigration officials found six immigrants in one truck, resulting in a potential fine of £12,000, and two in another. Both drivers were allowed to con tinue their journeys, although the Home Office does have the power to detain trucks and drivers, Neither driver is thought to be British as they were driving foreign trucks.
The industry will now watch closely to see if the drivers or their firms mount an appeal. They have 60 days to pay up, or 30 days in which to lodge their objections to the fines.
So far no British operators have been found with stowaways in their trailers, leaving the UK industry awaiting its first domestic test case.
Kate Gibbs of the RHA says: The first incident involving a British operator
will be very important. We need a test case if we are to stand any chance of getting this legislation thrown out."
Condemning the drivers' penalties, Geoff Dossetter of the ETA says: "It's like finding a burglar in your front room. calling the police and then getting arrested for your trouble."
The Home Office says it is too early to comment on how the legislation is working, but adds: "The early signs are good."
• The Home Office has denied that it is to install scanners of the type used on US borders which can detect people in trucks.
The scanners are being considered by Customs & Excise, but only to detect smuggling activity.