FTA encouraging freight operators to join scheme and take protection against migrants boarding trucks

Tuesday 26 January 2016

The Freight Transport Association is encouraging all freight operators to join the Civil Penalty Accreditation Scheme to help protect themselves and their drivers against fines should illegal migrants be found on board their trucks.

Introduced by Border Force in 2015, the Scheme reduces haulage companies’ risk of receiving fines by making sure they have effective systems in place to reduce the possibility of clandestines hiding in their vehicles.
Chris Yarsley, FTA EU Affairs Manager said: “FTA is urging its members to sign-up to the Civil Penalty Accreditation Scheme. This is the best way of protecting themselves - and their drivers - from financial penalties if migrants should be found on-board their vehicles.

“With the continued scenes of migrants targeting UK bound trucks in Calais we are encouraging all freight and logistics companies operating vehicles through the port to take every security measure available to them.”
As of today, new branding has been made available for operators taking part in the Scheme who are now eligible to use an Accreditation Mark on their vehicles, on internal documents and on documents to clients to highlight their membership.

The Accreditation Scheme is voluntary to freight operators, and it is expected that those taking part will take reasonable measures to make sure that the system works through training and monitoring their drivers.

Mr Yarsley continued: “FTA is engaged with the European Commission as it seeks to develop guidance for drivers across the EU, and this Border Force led Scheme is a good template that we will be promoting to the freight and logistics industry.”

Border Force publishes a full list of accredited hauliers of the Civil Penalty Accreditation Scheme on its website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-penalty-accreditation-scheme-accredited-haulage-companies

Notes for editors:

More details regarding the Civil Penalty Accreditation Scheme can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-penalty-accreditation-scheme/civil-penalty-accreditation-scheme
 
 
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