Last February, new restrictions came into force for carriers and drivers, in the event that a stowaway is found inside a vehicle seeking to enter the United Kingdom illegally.
Given the magnitude of this measure, the Spanish Confederation of Goods Transport (CETM), through the National Road Transport Committee (CNTC), requested a meeting with the Embassy of the United Kingdom in Spain so that representatives of the Border Force (responsible body) could discuss this. to implement the regulation) can explain the new system in more detail.
One of the measures introduced by the Border Force was the registration of the transport company in the Civilian Restrictions Accreditation Programme, a free registration to which all transport companies are accepted.
To register, it is necessary to fill up an online form, which will be reviewed by the Border Force, who will not immediately reject the request on detection of any irregularity, but will contact the company to resolve the issues that have arisen. Will do
The link is: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-to-join-civil-penalty-accreditationscheme
What to do if stowaway enters truck
Companies that are registered in this program and may be hit with a penalty for evasion by someone trying to enter the UK illegally can reduce this penalty by 50%. Later, the Border Force has presented a further update of the new restrictions rules and a clarification in relation to the old ones that they are considered as a minimum security measure, implying that the transport company and the driver have done enough against entry. What have you done to the stowaways?
For this, the Border Force has prepared a “check list” of elements that the driver should check during the journey and that the driver should carry with him in the cabin, so that in case of theft, the Border Force agent can Able to show that necessary measures have been taken to prevent this from happening.
The “check list” prepared by the Border Force need not be used on a mandatory basis. What’s more, companies can make their own, as long as it includes at least that much made by the Border Force. You can also use a “check list” in digital format. A company that uses a “check list” and is embroiled in a disciplinary process because a stowaway was introduced into the vehicle may see a 50% reduction in clearances.
This means that if the company is also linked to the program, the penalty will be reduced by 100%, assuming that the company has done everything possible to prevent this situation from happening, even if it did.
It should be noted that these restrictions apply to both the company and the driver separately. In this way, the transport company will get the amount of the fine and the driver separately, keeping in mind that each has different responsibilities to combat the entry of stowaways into the vehicles.
For now, there is no deduction for drivers like the one that exists for companies. What the driver can request is that the fine be reduced to make it commensurate with the salary he is getting. The purpose is that the sanction is a punishment, but it does not mean the ruin of the person who receives it. The same goes for companies, which can request that the penalty be tailored to their size so that it is not a slab that leaves the company unable to pay.
Another indication which was given by the border force is that it will never impose ban on the spot but when such type of incident is detected, it will collect all the sufficient information which will be sent to the probe body. In this case, the company and the driver will be given a month’s time to present the allegations and evidence. After that month, the Border Force will have five months to enforce the ban; If he does not implement it in that time, it will be taken as prescribed.
