Fined £1,500 for unknowingly bringing a migrant into the UK

Rals already done a thread on it. Stamer has commented about this, lot of truck drivers will be watching with interest.
 
Clearly when someone who through no fault of their own inadvertently brings someone into the country is treated like this, alarm bells are rightly ringing. They did nothing wrong as a matter of fact they deserve praise for doing the right thing in holding the young man and reporting this to the authorities. Why punish someone for doing what is right. And surely questions have to be asked of border controls, why did they not pick up on this, are they with all of their expensive equipment and training not more culpable here.
I hope common sense will prevail here, because if it does not others may decide not to do the right thing, and surely that’s not what the authorities want, or due to this publicity have we now set a precedent which will now lead to many simply not doing the right thing.
 
Fisherman said:
Clearly when someone who through no fault of their own inadvertently brings someone into the country is treated like this, alarm bells are rightly ringing. They did nothing wrong as a matter of fact they deserve praise for doing the right thing in holding the young man and reporting this to the authorities. Why punish someone for doing what is right. And surely questions have to be asked of border controls, why did they not pick up on this, are they with all of their expensive equipment and training not more culpable here.
I hope common sense will prevail here, because if it does not others may decide not to do the right thing, and surely that’s not what the authorities want, or due to this publicity have we now set a precedent which will now lead to many simply not doing the right thing.
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The question is, what are you going now going to do before coming back into UK after reading this story?
Last year after stopping 20 miles from Calais and seeing 'undesirables' in the area, I specifically looked around van and checked cycle rack, after all this is not the first time stories like this have been raised.
 
maingate said:
More on this story.

Click to expand...

This appears to be a different story and even more ridiculous. On the original story the single migrant was discovered when the couple got home in the UK. On this one two have been discovered by Border force before they got on the ferry in France!!! Yet they still received a £3000 fine and this is before they got on the ferry. Presumably though as it was "UK" border force that discovered the migrants even though they were still in Calais they had passed through French customs and were officially on British soil. Its absolutely bonkers. The law of course could argue that they were trafficking migrants and were caught. Obviously thats not the case but they may well have a fight on their hands to prove otherwise. Bonkers.

I guess the moral of the story is we need to be really careful. Take any covers off bikes or scooters for sure long before you get within 100 miles of Calais.
 
Common sense prevails after it was raised in the House of commons.

www.bbc.co.uk

Fine cancelled for Essex couple who found migrant on motorhome

A couple are "ecstatic" having been fined £1,500 after they reported a stowaway on their bike rack.
www.bbc.co.uk

It remains to be seen what will happen with the £3000 fine for the couple where the migrant was found by Border force in Maingates link

This should set a precedent though for any future incidents I would hope similar to the original one.
 
My van was given a thorough going over by customs at Portsmouth on the way out.
They looked everywhere including the wall lockers.
When they had finished they said they wanted to checked the top box on the bike I was towing.

As we went out I remarked that these were very small places they were checking and asked what they were looking for
"Well sir, some grandparents have snatched a week old baby and you two match their description!"
I opened the top box with no comment.
 
No doubt a pitch fork will now bring a charge of carrying an offensive weapon......I guese you could claim to use it with a wet towel to wash the roof
 
ricc said:
No doubt a pitch fork will now bring a charge of carrying an offensive weapon......I guese you could claim to use it with a wet towel to wash the roof
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Just hang a net of hay on the back, if you get stopped say "Christ what's happened to the horse".
 
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