Stowaway

[The Jacks]

Essex couple fined £1,500 after migrant hid on motorhome

The pair are given a £1,500 penalty after finding the young man once they arrived home in Essex.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[izwozral]

If it happened as the article states then surely the border force should be fined for gross negligence.
As the couple suggests, should anyone else find themselves in a similar position, they would be better off letting the migrant go free and keep quiet about it.

Just another UK stupid law that should be broken.

 

[barryd]

I suspect this will end up getting revoked. Everyone is saying the same thing in the motorhome community. If it happens to them they wont call the police now.

 

[runnach]

Keep him ball & chained up, and send him back after he has worked of the £1500 fine.

 

[trevskoda]

I would have kicked the fook out of him before dumping in the countryside, no ecilop involved.

 

[RichardHelen262]

How much must the RNLI owe ?

 

[RichardHelen262]

The year we were getting lock down due to covid we left Spain early, on our way back we stopped at citi Europe to get a few supplies, whilst we were sat in the motorhome having some lunch, before we were due on the tunnel, we saw a guy limb under someone’s bike cover, when the owner of the motorhome came back I went over and told him what I had seen, his reply was that’s fine we will just leave him there, as we are going to Germany..
As his wife was German so they were going to stay with her relatives

 

[Pudsey Bear]

At least he kept his eye on the bike.

 

[Boris7]

As the couple suggests, should anyone else find themselves in a similar position, they would be better off letting the migrant go free and keep quiet about it.

That’s exactly right. Even the RHA (unofficially) used to tell operators “let em go and shut up”

 

[iampatman]

I would have kicked the fook out of him before dumping in the countryside, no ecilop involved.

Why would you want to do that?

Pat

 

[colinm]

Hundreds of Truck drivers have been fined, and there have been numerous representations to .gov, don't think this will make much differance, well it didn't last time it happened to a motorhomer.

I suspect this will end up getting revoked. Everyone is saying the same thing in the motorhome community. If it happens to them they wont call the police now.

 

[barryd]

Hundreds of Truck drivers have been fined, and there have been numerous representations to .gov, don't think this will make much differance, well it didn't last time it happened to a motorhomer.

Were they caught though with migrants onboard or did they call the police when they discovered them? The law is an arse if its the latter. As far as I am aware this couple called the police and the migrant was detained. Had border force done their job correctly at customs they should never have had to do that. With a lorry I guess more onus is on the commercial driver to check his wagon as its unrealistic to expect border force to search every single one but if bike racks are a known hiding place on a motorhome its an easy check for an official to make. Im surprised the rack supported all that extra weight or that he didnt jump off earlier once in the UK!

The answer is simple then if this prosecution goes ahead. If you find one after you get home, just let them go and say nothing.

 

[yeoblade]

The year we were getting lock down due to covid we left Spain early, on our way back we stopped at citi Europe to get a few supplies, whilst we were sat in the motorhome having some lunch, before we were due on the tunnel, we saw a guy limb under someone’s bike cover, when the owner of the motorhome came back I went over and told him what I had seen, his reply was that’s fine we will just leave him there, as we are going to Germany..
As his wife was German so they were going to stay with her relatives

on the french second home owner site there was rear dash cam footage of a
couple stopping on the hard shoulder, heading South from Dieepe, to their house to let a migrant out of their trailer. Snuck in the trailer overnight whilst at the hotel.

 

[Nesting Zombie]

I heard this on the radio after it happened, Harsh & Unfair in my opinion. If it happened to me then I wouldn’t call the authorities after this being highlighted either. Which in itself is blinking ridiculous.

But playing devils advocate- I suppose we are ALL responsible for our Vehicles & Loads while travelling .

 

[runnach]

But playing devils advocate- I suppose we are ALL responsible for our Vehicles & Loads while travelling .

NZ, you would get away with it by saying you are keeping your lunch fresh by storing outside.

 

[Nesting Zombie]

NZ, you would get away with it by saying you are keeping your lunch fresh by storing outside.

I can assure you I make full use of my ‘Parts Locker’ !

 

[colinm]

But playing devils advocate- I suppose we are ALL responsible for our Vehicles & Loads while travelling .

AFAIK you get a fine for anything except being 'under duress', so if you turn up at customs and they find someone you get fined, the law won't be changed as this story will (maybe) ensure people check their vehicle before turning up at the ferry port, certainly we did after stopping about 20 miles before Calais and seeing a few suspects about.

 

[mark61]

There will be many in the haulage industry scratching their heads if they do manage to get it revoked.

I always check the van even though there's no where for anyone to hide in mine, you never know though.
Few trips back, had a 4am cuppa in the services near Grande-Synthe and spent about 30 mins watching 3 or 4 trying to get into vans, they managed to get in one but were soon chucked out.
BTW, I'm not recommending that services, its a right proper dump.

 

[Pauljenny]

Keep him ball & chained up, and send him back after he has worked of the £1500 fine.

You'd get arrested for about 37 offences.
He'd get to remain and win damages from you.
And there'd be a massive queue of " ME toos", on the French beaches and ports.

 

[korky]

Every time I come back through Dieppe in my Ducato PVC,they always come in the van,look around,check in the bathroom. Only twice in many crossings have they wanted me to open the rear doors. I could stash six people in there under the fixed bed. You can't see this area from inside the van.