Logistics businesses have called on the home secretary to quickly reform the “failed” clandestine entrants scheme that fines drivers for carrying illegal migrants.
Over 200 businesses from across the UK joined the Road Haulage Association to send an open letter to Yvette Cooper last week, urging the minister to overhaul the scheme, which they claim is ridden with “systemic failures”.
The letter comes after a recent Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration inspection revealed that drivers and operators were at risk of being hit with huge fines even when they secured their vehicles from migrants.
The Chief Inspector’s independent report also made several recommendations for Border Force to address what it found was insufficient training and underinvestment in technology at the border.
The Home Office said it would work to a 12 to 18-month timescale to implement some recommendations – but the RHA says it must be done quicker to protect hauliers.
“For too long, our industry has been unfairly hit by the failings in this scheme,” said Declan Pang, RHA public affairs & policy director.
“We echo the Chief Inspector’s comments that the Home Office should either resource or reform the scheme in line with the funding it’s willing to commit.”
The clandestine entrant civil penalty scheme, which enables Border Force to levy fines on anyone found to have a clandestine entrant in their vehicle, was reformulated in 2023 to include stricter security requirements and amp up fines.
These can go up to £10,000 per person found trying to illegally cross into the UK inside a commercial vehicle, which logistics operators have deemed “unfair” as often they are unaware that someone managed to break into their lorries – despite the vehicles fulfilling security requirements.
The letter to the home secretary read: “The ICIBI report is damning and finds that the clandestine entrant civil penalty scheme lacks leadership and resource.
“The scheme readily and easily shifts liability on to drivers and operators but is not equipped to exercise discretion when evidence shows there is no fault or negligence on their part. It is vital the scheme works efficiently and effectively to ensure penalties are consistent and fair.”
The group urged government to implement any changes before the end of 2025 given the “urgency” of the situation.
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The report by the UK’s borders inspector earlier this year also found the number of people detected trying to illegally enter Britain through its border controls in France remained “high and unrelenting”.
“Every day, drivers and businesses who have taken all possible steps to secure their vehicles don’t know if they’ll be fairly treated under this system,” Pang added.
“This does not instil confidence, and we hope the home secretary will agree with road freight and logistics businesses that the status quo is deeply unfair and cannot continue.
“We look forward to seeing greater urgency on this issue to keep the UK border secure as effectively as possible.”
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