FTA 'baffled' by French decision to halt scanning for illegal immigrants
Date: 25 January 2008
An organisation which represents the interests of the UK's hauliers, logistics drivers and owner operators has said that it is baffled by the recent decision by French authorities to ban the use of electronic scanning equipment designed to detect the presence of illegal immigrants in lorries bound for the UK.
Officials in Calais have been told by the French officials that they need written permission before they can use the scanners on freight haulage vehicles to search for stowaways.
The problem emerged when the French government raised concerns that the use of the equipment could breach European health and safety laws.
However, the Freight Transport Association's (FTA) director of external affairs, Geoff Dossetter, said that the use of these bits of equipment was supported by UK logistics workers.
He explained: "Lorry drivers support the use of scanning equipment, which adds to the actions they themselves take to defend their vehicles and loads from penetration by illegal immigrants, and from the criminals who facilitate them.
"The gathering of illegal immigrants seeking to reach the UK from Calais and elsewhere in northern France continues to be a major problem for British and all other lorry drivers crossing the Channel."
Mr Dossetter added that freight transport professionals needed as much help from both UK and foreign governments if they were to effectively tackle the problem.
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