The number of penalties issued to drivers and hauliers for harbouring stowaways increased by 90% last year, but the amount of money the UK Border Agency (UKBA) derived from these fines only rose by £100,000.
According to figures obtained through the Freedom of Information (FoI) Act by roadtransport.com between 1 January and 31 December 2009, 3,245 penalty notices were issued to drivers and firms for 'failing to operate an effective system to prevent illegal immigrants entering the UK'.
The figure is almost double the 1,700 penalty notices that UKBA says it issued in the previous year. However, the figure does also include incidents involving vans, coaches and cars, as the Home Office agency does not break down its statistics.
The penalties raised £1.6m, compared to £1.5m in 2008. Currently a HGV driver or haulage firm can each face a fine of £2,000 per stowaway if it is deemed they did not have adequate steps in place to secure their load.
However, the £1.6m includes an element of fines raised by penalties issued in previous years that were subject to the objection and appeals process.
The FoI request also reveals that UKBA blocked 29,323 clandestine attempts to enter Britain by way of an HGV in 2009 at juxtaposed controls in UK and French ports; a 4.7% rise on the 28,000 reported by UKBA in 2008.
The rise comes despite the former home secretary Alan Johnson's claims that the French government's closure of the illegal migrant camp in Calais known as the 'jungle' would "disrupt illegal immigration and people trafficking routes".
The fines were issued at the following ports and juxtaposed controls: Beford; Bristol; Calais; Coquelles; Dover; Dunkirk; Harwich; Hull; Humberside; Newhaven; Portsmouth; Ramsgate and Thames Corridor Port.
Truckers have been victims of violent attacks by stowaways, including 55-year old Brian Glover, who in January was left hospitalised by clandestines trying to enter his truck. He was hit from behind with a metal pole, knocking his glasses off and leaving blood gashing from his head.
His employer at Cheshire-based IRF (International Road Freight), Alan Dale, says all staff run checks to prevent stowaways entering their vehicles, however admits: "These people always manage to find a way to enter a vehicle and I can't see the problem getting any better."
