The RHA has criticised attempts by French and British border security to catch stowaways after suspected clandestine entrants were filmed scrambling out of a truck roof in an Essex layby.
Transport firm Algarve Removals said it was “deeply upset and frustrated” about the incident, in which four men were seen emerging from the lorry’s roof on Monday (3 August) and jumping off the vehicle in Maldon.
In a statement, the company said it was working with the police in its investigation and added that it did not condone the behaviour.
Essex police said it had initially arrested a man in his 60s on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration into the UK, but he has since been told he will face no further action.
“We were called to reports of around four people seen running from a lorry in a layby on the A414 in Maldon at just before 4pm,” a police spokesman said.
“Officers quickly attended and searched the area.”
Algarve Removals said it believed the individuals gained access to the trailer during the driver’s overnight stay at a secure truck stop near Rouen in France: “Having traded for over 30 years, we have never experienced an incident of this nature before,” the company said.
“The security of our vehicles is something we take extremely seriously.
“The vehicle in question was subject to a security inspection by French and UK Border Force in Calais prior to its departure to the UK. No issues were raised and our lorry was allowed through.”
Alastair Gunn, RHA policy lead for trade and borders, said the incident demonstrated that organised people smuggling gangs were continuing to hide stowaways in vehicles with no regard for their safety and undermining the efforts of drivers and businesses.
“The failure by French and British border security to detect these individuals is alarming,” he said.
“This underlines how much responsibility is still being placed on businesses and their drivers to police our borders.
“Following calls from our industry, initial reforms to the penalty scheme earlier this year were a step in the right direction, but the job is only partially done.
“Too many businesses are still being unfairly hit with crippling fines, despite a government-commissioned inspection highlighting huge flaws in the system.”
Gunn added: “We must see urgent investment in training and technology at our borders to tackle this issue, and help keep drivers and loads safe. We also want to see a fair system in place that protects drivers, goods, businesses and UK borders.”
