Northampton haulier EM Rogers protests £66k migrants fine

Northampton-based EM Rogers says the haulage industry risks losing drivers over government fines

A haulage firm said it had been fined £66,000 by the authorities after six migrants were found in one of its vehicles.

Ed Rogers, of EM Rogers in Northampton, said it was given the penalty by the UK Border Force after the incident in November.

The firm director previously said the industry risked losing drivers over the fines.

The Home Office says "far too many vehicles are not adequately secured".

Mr Rogers said hauliers were "actually the victims" and that "vulnerable lorry drivers" were being targeted by organised gangs.

"Can you imagine having your house broken into at night and then being fined for it?" he said.

Ed Rogers said hauliers were "actually the victims" and that "vulnerable lorry drivers" were being targeted

Mr Rogers said his company was fined £30,000 over the incident on 10 November, while the driver of the vehicle was fined £36,000.

The company had already been fined £15,000 - and one of its drivers £9,000 - after three people were found during a crossing from Calais to Dover in April last year.

He said EM Rogers, established in 1945, completed "hundreds" of Channel crossings every week and that the company had "robust systems" in place to train drivers against the risks.

The firm renewed training on a "quarterly basis", he said, and carried out audits on drivers throughout the year.

In a statement, a Home Office spokesperson said: "In the last 12 months, we have strengthened the haulier civil penalty with significantly increased financial penalties to ensure that drivers are taking every reasonable step to deter illegal migration and disrupt people smugglers."

Under increased fines introduced last year, anyone found to be carrying an illegal migrant - including tourists - faces a fine of up to £10,000 for each "clandestine entrant".