Post by Hickman on Dec 2, 2005 23:08:31 GMT -5
[shadow=red,left,300]Fined for shopping illegals [/shadow]
By JOHN TROUP
A TRUCKER stopped six illegal immigrants sneaking into Britain — and was fined £1,500.
Richard Chapman was concerned he had stowaways on board when he heard noises from the back of his lorry as he made his way to Calais to get a Dover ferry.
At the French port he went to a British immigration post where the men were found inside a giant paper conveyor machine in his truck.
But instead of getting a pat on the back from the immigration officers, they told him the checkpoint was technically part of UK soil and fined him under laws which penalise drivers for having illegals in their vehicles.
His company Mernagh Transport, based in Co Kilkenny, Ireland, was also fined £5,100 — which was £850 for each of the Asian stowaways.
Richard, 51, of Llandrindod Wells, mid-Wales, said he was prepared to go to jail rather than pay.
He said: “I’m absolutely fuming with the way I was treated. These six immigrants would have been in the country by now if it wasn’t for me — yet I’m getting punished.
“When I complained they told me that the rules were the rules. There’s a total lack of common sense. I’ve not done anything wrong. They even say it will cost me £100 just to lodge an appeal.”
Richard’s boss Pat Mernagh said: “What kind of message does this send out to drivers? If you get punished for helping to stop people sneaking into Britain then truckers will just drive through even if they know they’ve got stowaways.”
A Home Office spokesman said: “There is a penalty regime which encourages hauliers to check and secure their vehicles.
“Consideration will be given to whether the firm and driver operated an effective system for preventing the carriage of clandestines.”
;D 
www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2005550872,00.html
By JOHN TROUP
A TRUCKER stopped six illegal immigrants sneaking into Britain — and was fined £1,500.
Richard Chapman was concerned he had stowaways on board when he heard noises from the back of his lorry as he made his way to Calais to get a Dover ferry.
At the French port he went to a British immigration post where the men were found inside a giant paper conveyor machine in his truck.
But instead of getting a pat on the back from the immigration officers, they told him the checkpoint was technically part of UK soil and fined him under laws which penalise drivers for having illegals in their vehicles.
His company Mernagh Transport, based in Co Kilkenny, Ireland, was also fined £5,100 — which was £850 for each of the Asian stowaways.
Richard, 51, of Llandrindod Wells, mid-Wales, said he was prepared to go to jail rather than pay.
He said: “I’m absolutely fuming with the way I was treated. These six immigrants would have been in the country by now if it wasn’t for me — yet I’m getting punished.
“When I complained they told me that the rules were the rules. There’s a total lack of common sense. I’ve not done anything wrong. They even say it will cost me £100 just to lodge an appeal.”
Richard’s boss Pat Mernagh said: “What kind of message does this send out to drivers? If you get punished for helping to stop people sneaking into Britain then truckers will just drive through even if they know they’ve got stowaways.”
A Home Office spokesman said: “There is a penalty regime which encourages hauliers to check and secure their vehicles.
“Consideration will be given to whether the firm and driver operated an effective system for preventing the carriage of clandestines.”
;D 
www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2005550872,00.html