A lorry driver who apprehended two illegal immigrants has been fined £12,000 by Border Force.
Michael Fletcher, 63, was fined on his journey back from Calais when he was told that he should have checked his truck more thoroughly, despite alerting the authorities of the individuals.
As the driver was boarding a ferry on September 16, he felt the vehicle move. He alerted the guards, who then found two illegal immigrants hidden in the back of the lorry.
He claims to have been assured by Calais guards that he had carried out the required checks through the UK Immigration Control Zone, yet still received a fine from the Border Force command in February.
Michael Fletcher has said that one of the first letters he received from the authorities detailed how to pay the fine
He said: “The two vehicles in front of me started their engines and I then felt my lorry move which was strange as it was a sunny day and there was no wind.
“I did all the checks. I walked around to the front and I thought the only place now is up on the roof, and that’s four metres high.
“So I climbed up between the lorry cab and I managed to get my hands on top and pull myself up, and I looked over and I could see where they had cut the roof and somebody had sealed it back with tape.
“So I got down and I shouted to the French border guards and they came back with the dog. I told them I thought I had somebody on board. Then about 30 minutes later the English Border Force came.”
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The driver has said that he has now changed jobs and only works within the UK as a result of the stress of the dispute (Stock image)
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The letter stated that Fletcher was unable to produce a checklist. However, the driver produced a photograph disputing this claim. In response, Border Force has sought a reduced fine of £3,000.
Fletcher has worked in the transportation industry since the 1970s. However, he said that he has now changed jobs and only works within the UK as a result of the stress of the dispute.
He said that he did not understand how the security guards and various checks were unable to detect the immigrants.
He raised the issue with his MP at the time, Mark Harper, who referred the case to the former Home Secretary James Cleverly.
The case was put on hold when Parliament dissolved in May and Mark Harper was ousted from his seat in the Forest of Dean. Since then, Fletcher’s case is yet to be looked into by new Labour MP Matt Bishop.
Mr Fletcher said: “I just want my issue resolved. I’m now waiting for bailiffs to come take the value of the fine. I don’t understand how they can fine me when they haven’t taken me to court. The first letter they sent to me was how to pay the fine and nobody wants to talk to me because I’m not that important.”
With the Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Scheme, the previous Conservative Government increased penalties for negligence over criminality. The scheme is targeted at drivers to check their vehicle for stowaways and require them to take the necessary precautions to prevent inadvertently smuggling migrants across borders.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are fully committed to securing the border and cracking down on people smugglers.
“The Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Scheme aims to ensure drivers are taking every reasonable step to deter irregular migration and disrupt people smugglers.”
