Readers with international operations are urged to join the  Civil Penalty accreditation scheme if they have not done so already. This is a UK Government initiative that will assist operators to reduce the size of financial penalties that UK Border Force imposes should your vehicles be found to have brought clandestine persons into the UK.

The Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Accreditation Scheme recognises those hauliers who take measures to operate an effective system for securing goods vehicles and for preventing the carriage of clandestine entrants. It also recognises those coach companies that run an effective system in the prevention of clandestine entrants.

The scheme is open to all hauliers and coach companies travelling to the UK and it is free to join.

Civil penalties may be issued to both drivers and hauliers for the offences of failing to secure a goods vehicle and for the carriage of clandestine entrants. Members of the Home Office Accreditation Scheme may benefit from a reduction in the penalty amount that may be levied for those offences.

Find out more at: Civil penalty accreditation scheme – GOV.UK