Secure your Freight To and From the UK
There have been more than 8000 recorded attempted trailer and container breaches by migrants that are bound for the UK from Calais. Every migrant found on a transport company vehicle receives heavy fines per migrant found. In the last 12 months fines issued have increased by 50% with more than 3,300 fines were issued by UK Border Force staff in 2014-15, up from 2,177 in 2013-14. These are only the recorded figures there have been far more attempts which have gone unrecorded making transportation very difficult for organisations to import and export goods from and to the UK.
Recently there are many organisations facing major issues surrounding the securing of their cargo and vehicles leaving and entering the UK. The most common issue is a vehicle breach on return to the UK by clandestine entrants trying to seek asylum in the United Kingdom.
Calais Crisis Brings £2000 Fines for Drivers and Company
A clandestine entrant is a person who hides in or on a vehicle to avoid going through UK border control. Failure to secure road vehicles, and if found to be carrying clandestine entrants into the UK will result in a civil penalty or more commonly known as a fine of up to £2000 for each illegal entrant carried. This can be issued to the vehicles driver, owner or vehicle hirer and the law applies to all UK arrivals, including from European sea ports and also the Eurotunnel Shuttle.
UK Border Control Laws
Since February 2014 the Home Office has passed new laws and compliance guidelines for securing vehicles crossing the UK Border Controls by road. The guide was made to assist road transport companies tackle immigration issues to prevent people from entering the UK illegally. It is imperative that road transport companies and their drivers take immigration laws seriously and must conduct mitigating actions to secure vehicles that come into the UK to stop ‘clandestine entrants’.
Immigration fines up by 50%
There have been more than 8000 recorded attempted trailer and container breaches by migrants that are bound for the UK from Calais. Every migrant found on a transport company vehicle receives heavy fines per migrant found. In the last 12 months fines issued have increased by 50% with more than 3,300 fines were issued by UK Border Force staff in 2014-15, up from 2,177 in 2013-14. These are only the recorded figures there have been far more attempts which have gone unrecorded making transportation very difficult for organisations to import and export goods from and to the UK.
Though the organisations have had a little relief with the French authorities providing the Secure Zone for the UK bound Lorries, though there are still many migrants whom sneak onto the Lorries from as far as Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Spain. Making the Secure Zone pretty much useless of the Migrants are already on the trucks prior to them entering the Secure Zone.
Mega Fortris UK Solution to Calais Crisis.
We take immigration laws very seriously and believe in providing an effective system is to secure your vehicles to prevent you or the driver from being fined. To help you understand the requirements for UK Government we have provided details on what an effective security system includes for a company.
High Strength Security devices to secure the vehicle, load and load space effectively. This can be in the form of a High Security Cable Seal, Bar Seal or Bolt Seal to secure the vehicle. And Dunnage Bags, Strapping or Container Lashing to secure the load and the load space.
How can UK Transport firms deal with the Calais Crisis?
It is the company’s responsibility to ensure adequate training is provided for the drivers delivering into Europe via UK ports and borders. Drivers need to learn and understand how to use security devices and the security system procedures in the events of tampering and vehicle breaches.
Businesses should provide the driver with a vehicle security checklist which contains checkpoints for the Vehicle/Trailer Inside, check external compartments of vehicle, the under-carriage of the vehicle and many others.
The company should also ensure that they are doing everything they can to support the driver through regular training sessions. So that both the driver and the company have maintained 100% confidence in the security system will reduce the chances of a breach and also reduce the risk of a fine.
Guidelines for the Driver
For the driver of a company the following should be considered important to ensure the driver does not receive a penalty:
- Security seals – The driver should verify whether the vehicle has been secured with a security seal such as a metal cable seal, a bolt seal or a bar seal.
- Check the security seal for tampering after each stop and before entering the UK. It is also important for the driver to the vehicle thoroughly.
- Ensure the driver completes a vehicle security checklist.
Making sure you follow the guidance of the UK law as to near perfection as possible is the ultimate goal in deterring migrants from crossing the channel and entering the UK illegally.
What Security Seals Can I use to Secure my Vehicles?
Mega Fortris UK are transport security specialists who manufacture Customs approved High Security Seals that have also been certified to ISO 17712 Security seal standards. Our Bolt Seals, Cable Seals and Bar Seals have been designed to prevent unauthorised access to vehicles and containers. Our latest bolt seal, 2K Klicker comes with Tamper Evidence technology to help the driver determine if the bolt seal has been tampered with.
We can provide you with on-site training and will assist you with your transport security requirements to ensure you are protected by UK Border Control Laws. Mega Fortris UK – Securing the supply chain with innovation and Design.
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