Hauliers that have experienced illegal immigrants stowing away in their trucks are being asked to share their experience with the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration.

David Bolt, Interim Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, is currently carrying out an investigation into the Border Force operation to deter and detect clandestine entrants into the UK and also look at the penalties incurred by hauliers found to be carrying illegal immigrants.

He is calling for evidence from hauliers and others that have knowledge or first-hand experience of having illegal immigrants entering the UK by stowing away in their vehicles.

In a statement Bolt said: “As Independent Chief Inspector, I am inviting anyone with knowledge or first-hand experience of clandestine entry to the UK by vehicle or freight, and of the measures employed to deter and detect clandestine entrants, including of the Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Scheme and Civil Penalty Accreditation Scheme, to submit evidence to inform this inspection.

“Evidence from those with knowledge and first-hand experience adds value to every inspection, but particularly so here as clandestine entry is by its nature a hidden activity and what is known about it officially can only ever provide a partial picture.

“I am therefore especially keen to receive as many individual accounts and insights as possible to understand what is working well and where improvements are needed.

He added: “The information you submit may be quoted in the final inspection report, but it is the ICIBI’s practice not to name sources and to anonymise as much as possible any examples or case studies.” 

Bolt also noted that, whilst his remit does not extend to investigating or making decisions about individual cases, he is able to “take an interest in individual cases to the extent that they illustrate or point to systemic problems”.

Bolt’s investigation will focus on how efficient and effective the Border Force is in deterring and detecting clandestine entry into the UK via vehicles and freight, particularly at Calais, Coquelles and Dunkirk.

The investigation will also look at the administration and effectiveness of the controversial Civil Penalty Accreditation Scheme for lorry drivers and hauliers.

Last year the scheme’s fines were upped from £2,000 to £10,000 for each clandestine entrant found in their vehicles. In addition, even if no clandestine entrant is found, hauliers crossing into the UK can also be penalised if their lorry is not adequately secured.

One company which has suffered the effects of the Civil Penalty Accreditation Scheme is EM Rogers in Northampton, which was landed with a £66,000 penalty in November last year after six migrants were found in one of its trucks.

The company was fined £30,000 and the driver of the vehicle was fined £36,000.

Director Ed Rogers has likened the penalty to fining the residents of a house after it has been broken into at night. 

The call for evidence will close on 6 September and all contributors’ submissions will be anonymised.

Submissions can be emailed to the Independent Chief Inspector at clandestineentrants@icibi.gov.uk.

 

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