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<p>Border Force provides advice, guidance and an online checklist for haulage companies
on how to secure their vehicle. To help avoid penalties and improve security, companies
can also apply for Border Force Accreditation. There are assorted translations available.</p><p>Border
Force have provided hauliers and drivers with both emergency and non emergency numbers
to use in Northern France. These numbers have been shared with the Road Haulage Association,
The Freight Traffic Association and others.</p><p>Companies can take positive measures
to improve vehicle security against clandestine activity and avoid penalties by following
the codes of practice and applying for Border Force Accreditation. Sign up is simple
and can be completed following instructions online at gov.uk</p><p>The Border Force
Accreditation scheme enables hauliers to demonstrate their commitment to improving
the physical security of their vehicle. To be part of the scheme traders need to ensure
they have undertaken thorough checks of their vehicles at each step of their journey
and have employed sufficient preventative security measures to reduce the risk of
being breached. There has been a significant increase in the number of companies joining
the scheme.</p><p>Provisions for imposing penalties on individuals or companies are
including in the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (Section 32). The provisions are
underpinned by two codes of practice, details of which can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/secure-your-vehicle-to-help-stop-illegal-immigration"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/secure-your-vehicle-to-help-stop-illegal-immigration</a>.
Drivers and owners can object against the penalty and provide further evidence and
there is also an appeal to County Court available, all details of both are provided
when a penalty is imposed.</p><p>Following a Ministerial summit with key representatives
from the haulage and food transport industries the summit in March, we have been taking
forward a programme of work to develop our partnership with the haulage sector, including:
engaging with international partners such as the European Commission and European
trade bodies; and encouraging better information exchange between industry and law
enforcement.</p><p>As part of this ongoing work, Immigration Minister James Brokenshire
hosted a series of round table discussions with industry to discuss what more can
be done to improve vehicle security and reduce the clandestine threat to the haulage
sector.</p><p>The Government is providing funding to bolster the security and infrastructure
of ports in Northern France and Belgium. This includes investment in ports in Northern
France and Belgium to improve security and infrastructure and traffic fluidity with
a revised port layout with £12 million committed by the UK under the Joint Declaration
with France announced in September 2014. This fund has been used to reinforce security
at the juxtaposed ports including installation of fencing around the Calais port and
the approach road. There are plans to improve security at Coquelles Eurotunnel site
including installing National Barrier Asset fencing which will be installed at Coquelles
during July to help reinforce port security.</p><p>On 14 July the Home Secretary announced
in Parliament the creation of a new secure zone at the port of Calais for UK bound
lorries. This will provide a secure waiting area for 230 vehicles - the equivalent
of removing a two-and-a-half mile queue from the approaching road. This should transform
protection for lorries and their drivers removing them from the open road where they
can become targets for migrants attempting to board their vehicles.</p>
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