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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Calais migrant crisis: Hauliers owe £4m in fines | Calais migrant crisis: Hauliers owe £4m in fines |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Haulage firms and lorry drivers have been fined more than £4m after migrants were found in their vehicles - with the number of fines up 50% on last year. | |
| More than 3,300 fines were issued by UK Border Force staff in 2014-15, up from 2,177 in 2013-14, the BBC has learned. | More than 3,300 fines were issued by UK Border Force staff in 2014-15, up from 2,177 in 2013-14, the BBC has learned. |
| The fines can be as much £2,000 per migrant and can be levied against both drivers and their employers. | The fines can be as much £2,000 per migrant and can be levied against both drivers and their employers. |
| Hauliers say the system is "unfair" but the Home Office said many lorries did not have "basic standards of security". | Hauliers say the system is "unfair" but the Home Office said many lorries did not have "basic standards of security". |
| The fines, known as civil penalties, can be imposed as lorries enter the UK, and also when they are searched by UK officials at ports in France - such as Calais - and Belgium, under the so-called juxtaposed controls system. | The fines, known as civil penalties, can be imposed as lorries enter the UK, and also when they are searched by UK officials at ports in France - such as Calais - and Belgium, under the so-called juxtaposed controls system. |
| Why is there a crisis in Calais? | |
| The number of penalties issued over the last five years are: | The number of penalties issued over the last five years are: |
| The figures come amid the crisis around Calais, during which thousands of migrants have tried to board UK-bound lorries. | The figures come amid the crisis around Calais, during which thousands of migrants have tried to board UK-bound lorries. |
| Lawyers acting for drivers and road haulage companies say the way the fines system is being operated is "unfair" given the dangers their clients face. | Lawyers acting for drivers and road haulage companies say the way the fines system is being operated is "unfair" given the dangers their clients face. |
| Joanne Witheford, a specialist road transport lawyer, told the BBC: "We asked UK Border Force if there was going to be any leniency shown to drivers in the present situation. | Joanne Witheford, a specialist road transport lawyer, told the BBC: "We asked UK Border Force if there was going to be any leniency shown to drivers in the present situation. |
| "They have told us it is 'business as usual', but the situation is anything but usual. | "They have told us it is 'business as usual', but the situation is anything but usual. |
| "There are desperate people willing to do anything to get into the UK." | "There are desperate people willing to do anything to get into the UK." |
| Ms Witheford said one firm she has been working with had been hit with £36,000 in fines. | Ms Witheford said one firm she has been working with had been hit with £36,000 in fines. |
| She called for immunity for drivers who have taken all reasonable precautions and alerted UK Border Force officials to any suspicions they have. | She called for immunity for drivers who have taken all reasonable precautions and alerted UK Border Force officials to any suspicions they have. |
| "Where is the incentive for drivers to inform border staff that they might have clandestine migrants on board?" she added. | "Where is the incentive for drivers to inform border staff that they might have clandestine migrants on board?" she added. |
| Legal challenge | Legal challenge |
| Lorry driver Mark Baldwin was fined £600 and his firm was fined £1,200 after he arrived from Calais with migrants in his trailer. | Lorry driver Mark Baldwin was fined £600 and his firm was fined £1,200 after he arrived from Calais with migrants in his trailer. |
| He told BBC Breakfast he had earlier found eight migrants hiding in his lorry at Calais. They were removed after he alerted French authorities. | He told BBC Breakfast he had earlier found eight migrants hiding in his lorry at Calais. They were removed after he alerted French authorities. |
| When he arrived in the UK he asked border staff to check his lorry again and they discovered three more stowaways, he said. | When he arrived in the UK he asked border staff to check his lorry again and they discovered three more stowaways, he said. |
| His fine has been rescinded, but he said his firm - which has since stopped making trips to the continent - had to pay its penalty. | His fine has been rescinded, but he said his firm - which has since stopped making trips to the continent - had to pay its penalty. |
| "It is like going to a policeman and saying 'I have seen this crime' and then getting fined for telling them," he said. | "It is like going to a policeman and saying 'I have seen this crime' and then getting fined for telling them," he said. |
| Simon Clarke, head of transport law at Cartwright King Solicitors, said a system must be in place to protect drivers, and there should be "incentives rather than penalties" for those who are targeted. | |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that checking large lorries was often difficult and time-consuming. | |
| The Home Office points said only 7% of penalties imposed were issued to British drivers. | The Home Office points said only 7% of penalties imposed were issued to British drivers. |
| "Most hauliers take their responsibility for vehicle security seriously but, despite co-operation from the British haulage industry, Border Force estimates one third of lorries arriving at the UK border do not have basic standards of security," a spokesman said. | "Most hauliers take their responsibility for vehicle security seriously but, despite co-operation from the British haulage industry, Border Force estimates one third of lorries arriving at the UK border do not have basic standards of security," a spokesman said. |
| "Drivers who can show they have taken simple steps to secure their vehicles will not receive a penalty." | "Drivers who can show they have taken simple steps to secure their vehicles will not receive a penalty." |
| Haulage firms have mounted a legal challenge and, early next year, the Court of Appeal will look at whether the penalties are being "fairly applied". | Haulage firms have mounted a legal challenge and, early next year, the Court of Appeal will look at whether the penalties are being "fairly applied". |
| Are you a lorry driver or do you work for a haulage firm which has been fined? You can share your views and experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you a lorry driver or do you work for a haulage firm which has been fined? You can share your views and experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| If you are available to speak to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. | If you are available to speak to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. |
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