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BIFA and RHA call for Civil Penalties speed-up

[ May 6, 2025   //   ]

BIFA and the Road Haulage Association (RHA) are inviting their members to add their names to an open letter to be sent to the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper asking her to speed up improvements to the Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Scheme.

International road freight operators are invited to sign up to the scheme to protect themselves from penalties when stowaways are discovered on vehicles returning to the UK.

However, BIFA says that many drivers and operators have been fined despite having done everything reasonable to keep their vehicles secure.

It adds that a recent report by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICBI) has revealed a number of flaws in how the scheme is managed, and that Border Force security at juxtaposed ports (UK border points across the Channel) is inadequate.

The ICBI made a number of recommendations, which the Home Office has committed to implementing, but there is significant concern that the 12-18 month timeframe is too long, it says.

The trade associations say they are confident that Border Force can do this work to improve the Scheme and bolster security in a significantly shorter timeframe and are calling on the Home Secretary to commit to completing all the necessary changes recommended by the ICBI by the end of 2025.

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