Upwards on 200 businesses have today joined with Road Haulage Association (RHA) in calling on the UK Home Office to speed up reforms to a scheme to prevent ‘clandestine entrants’ crossing into the UK in lorries and coaches. ⚠️

A recent independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration inspection revealed that drivers and operators, including Irish operators are vulnerable to being hit with huge fines even when they have done everything possible to protect and secure their vehicles from migrants.

The Home Office said they will work to a 12-18-month timescale to implement some recommended changes to the flawed scheme, but the RHA says it must be done sooner.

Commenting on this, RHA Public Affairs and Policy Director, Declan Pang said: “For too long, our industry has been unfairly hit by the failings in the current scheme. The Home Office should adequately resource or reform the scheme in line with the funding it’s willing to commit.”

“Every day, drivers and operators who have taken all possible steps to secure their vehicles do not know if they’ll be fairly treated under the current system… We hope the Home Secretary will agree with 200 businesses in our key industry that this is deeply unfair and cannot continue.”