FORTY lorries were searched at Oxford service station in a police operation to stop people smuggling.

Thames Valley Police officers worked with Border Force and Immigration Enforcement to stop HGV drivers and tell them about how lorries being driven from ports into the UK may be targeted by organised criminals looking to get illegal immigrants into the country.

Oxford Mail:

Over the five days last week, 275 hauliers were stopped at service stations at Newport Pagnell, Chieveley, Waterstock, Beaconsfield and Reading.

No humans were found in any of the lorries during the searches but after checks it was revealed that 22 of them had unpaid clandestine fines for previously being found with people on the lorry at border crossings.

In Oxford, three of the companies had clandestine fines outstanding and £9,890 was recovered in payment on Wednesday.

A ‘clandestine entrant’ is a person who enters the UK concealed in a vehicle in order to evade border controls.

Smuggling or helping to smuggle people into the UK is illegal. 

Detective Inspector Steve Jones, of the Thames Valley Police Serious and Organised Crime Unit, said: “People may ask why Thames Valley Police is involved and why we are engaging with hauliers in these areas. Sometimes like other areas across the country, the service stations in our area can be a first stop off, after a channel crossing, so this might be a place where those who have been smuggled try to exit a lorry or vehicle.

“So we feel this an appropriate place to remind hauliers and the public of the dangers around people smuggling.

“It is important to remind people that those who are smuggled are then often forced into modern slavery, prostitution and other crime, having been been promised a better life in the UK and forced to pay vast amounts of cash to get here.

“The risk of serious injury or death of being smuggled in the back of a lorry or a small boat is significant.

Oxford Mail:

“There are also serious penalties for those caught helping to smuggle people into the UK in the back of lorries. They could be arrested and investigated and their employer could face substantial fines for not having appropriate security in place for their fleet.

“We would advise anyone who thinks that there may be people trapped in a lorry or vehicle to report it to police immediately to 999 as a life could be put at risk.

“Equally if you think someone you know is involved in such activity, or if you’ve been approached by someone to smuggle people then please do report it as it could save someone’s life and bring the organised gangs who are ruthlessly exploiting often vulnerable people to justice.  

“If you don’t feel comfortable talking to the police you can report 100% anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

“We will continue to work with our partners at UK Border Force, the National Crime Agency as well as other partners in order to bring offenders to justice and reduce the risk to those being exploited by this illegal and highly dangerous activity.”

Breakdown of the numbers from last week

  • Monday (March 1) 60 lorries searched at Newport Pagnell. Six companies had clandestine fines outstanding, £11,400 recovered in payment and last lorry towed with £5,200 on it.
  • Tuesday (March 2) 35 lorries searched at Chieveley Services. Four companies had clandestine fines outstanding, £33,100 recovered in payment.
  • Wednesday (March 3) 40 lorries searched at Oxford Services (Waterstock). Three companies had clandestine fines outstanding, £9,890 recovered in payment.
  • Thursday (March 4) 40 lorries searced at Beaconsfield Services. Five companies had clandestine fines outstanding, £19,500 recovered in payment. The last lorry was towed with £10,000 on it.
  • Friday (March 5) 50 lorries searched in Reading. Four companies had clandestine fines outstanding, £22,300 recovered in payment.
  • 225 lorries searched in one week
  • 50 lorries stopped and HGV drivers spoken to
  • £96,190 recovered in cash
  • Two lorries seized by Border Force after refusing to pay fines at the time – totalling £15,200

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