The Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) has initiated an inspection into the UK Border Force's efforts to prevent and detect clandestine entrants attempting to enter the UK by hiding in vehicles and freight.
This inspection will concentrate on the operations at key entry points in northern France, including Calais, Coquelles, and Dunkirk, where many clandestine entry attempts occur.
The ICIBI aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Border Force’s methods, as well as the administration of the Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Scheme and the Civil Penalty Accreditation Scheme. These schemes impose penalties on lorry drivers and haulage companies when migrants are discovered hidden in their vehicles.
As of February 2023, the fines under the Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Scheme have increased significantly: the maximum fine for each stowaway found on a truck has risen from £2,000 to £10,000, with the total possible fines for multiple infractions reaching up to £20,000. Additionally, even if a vehicle is found unsecured but no migrants are onboard, fines can still reach £6,000, or £12,000 in total for multiple vehicles.
EM Rogers’s case from last summer exemplifies the high penalties imposed under this scheme: a lorry driver from the company was fined £9,000 after three stowaways were discovered in his vehicle upon entering the UK, despite him taking all recommended precautions. The haulage company was also fined £15,000, leading to criticism from the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and the company itself, who argue that it is often impossible to prevent such incidents, even with stringent security measures fully.
The ICIBI has issued a call for evidence, inviting individuals and organisations with knowledge or first-hand experience of clandestine entry to the UK to contribute to the inspection. This includes those in the transportation sector and others familiar with the measures used by the Border Force. The ICIBI stressed the importance of this evidence, given the secretive nature of clandestine entry, which makes official data incomplete.
This call for evidence remains open until 6 September 2024. The information gathered will inform the final inspection report, with the ICIBI assuring contributors that their identities will be protected and details anonymised wherever possible.
