Illegal Immigrants

• Officially referred to as "Clandestine Entrants" - more accurately described as stowaways. There are extremely high "civil penalties" (or fines ) to be paid if these people are found concealed on
  vehicles entering the United Kingdom.
  
• Both the High Court and the Court of Appeal ruled that the original legislation breached the provisions of the Human Rights Act 1998.
  
• The legislation has now been amended; the level of penalty is no longer fixed but can be as much as £2,000 per clandestine entrant found.
  
• Both driver and operator are liable to have penalties imposed upon them, but under the amended legislation an operator is liable to pay the driver's penalty if the driver cannot pay. Effectively this means that operators face penalties of up to £4,000 per clandestine entrant found.
  
• The legislation provides a defence, but this requires the adoption of a proper system which was being correctly used at the time.
• Appeals from the decisions of the UK Immigration Services, who administer the system, are to the County Court.
  
• Prevention is always better than cure - we can not only assist on appeals to Court but can provide the necessary system and advise on the all important driver training needed to ensure the system is properly used.