Key points
- Twelve men and women were found in a lorry at the Vlaardingen ferry terminal.
- Several reportedly required medical assessment, including an older man using a wheelchair.
- The driver was arrested, but the investigation must establish whether he knew how the group entered the vehicle.
- Under UK rules, drivers and carriers can each face penalties of up to £10,000 per clandestine entrant.
- A separate penalty of up to £6,000 can apply where a goods vehicle is inadequately secured, even if nobody is found inside.
- Border Force expects operators to train drivers, provide appropriate security equipment and retain records of vehicle checks.
Twelve people found in load space
Dutch police found the group inside the load space of the vehicle at the terminal on Vulcaanweg in Vlaardingen on the morning of 14 August. The vehicle was described as a Turkish lorry. The driver’s nationality has not been disclosed.
The group reportedly included men and women of different ages, among them several older people. Ambulance personnel examined all 12 at the scene, while one older man was reported to be using a wheelchair.
They were subsequently taken to a police station. Dutch authorities had not disclosed their countries of origin or intended destination at the time of publication.
The vehicle was found at the DFDS terminal used by ferry services to Felixstowe, although this does not by itself establish that the group intended to travel to the UK.
The driver was arrested on suspicion of people smuggling. An arrest does not establish guilt, and investigators must determine how and when the people entered the vehicle and whether the driver knew they were there.
UK penalties do not depend on criminal involvement
For hauliers, an important distinction exists between a criminal investigation into deliberate people smuggling and the UK’s Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Scheme.
A driver or operator does not need to be suspected of knowingly assisting anyone to face a civil penalty. Liability can arise because a vehicle was insufficiently secured or because the required checks cannot be demonstrated.
Under current Border Force guidance, a vehicle’s driver, owner or hirer may each face a penalty of up to £10,000 for every clandestine entrant carried. The combined penalty imposed on all responsible parties can reach £20,000 per person found.
Driving an inadequately secured goods vehicle can result in a separate penalty of up to £6,000, even when no clandestine entrant is discovered. That rule applies to vehicles both entering and departing the UK.
Companies may also be held jointly liable for penalties imposed on their drivers, while vehicles can be detained until outstanding penalties and detention costs have been paid.
Secure, check and record
Border Force’s latest guidance requires much more than locking the trailer at the beginning of a journey.
Drivers should:
- observe loading or inspect the vehicle at the earliest opportunity;
- secure doors with appropriate locks, numbered seals or TIR cords;
- record seal numbers and any existing damage;
- inspect the vehicle’s body, roof, load space, axles, lockers and wind deflector;
- repeat the checks after every stop;
- make a final inspection before entering the UK control zone;
- record every inspection on the official vehicle-security checklist.
If there are signs of damage, tampering or unauthorised access, the driver should contact the local police, port security or Border Force. Drivers are specifically advised not to approach anyone hiding in or on the vehicle and not to board UK-bound transport or pass through UK border control while they suspect somebody may be concealed aboard.
The Home Office provides a multilingual vehicle-security checklist, including versions in Turkish, Dutch and several other European languages.
Training cannot be reduced to handing out a leaflet
Operators travelling to the UK can apply free of charge to the Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Accreditation Scheme.
To qualify, a company must demonstrate a robust security system. This includes supplying suitable locks, seals and TIR cables; giving drivers instructions in their preferred language; retaining completed checklists for six months; and reviewing them within 30 days of each journey.
The training requirement is particularly important. Border Force says simply giving a driver written instructions is not adequate. Training must:
- allow drivers to interact with a trainer and ask questions;
- cover vehicle security and the prevention of clandestine entry;
- include a knowledge check;
- be documented, including attendance and test results;
- be followed by refresher training at least annually.
Operators can create an in-house programme or use specialist training. One available example is Fleet Source’s CEASE course, which covers entry methods, vehicle inspections, personal safety, record-keeping and the action to take when somebody is found. Its trainer-led version is offered as a 3.5-hour Driver CPC module.
Short e-learning awareness modules are also available from commercial providers, but operators should not assume that a video or self-study module alone meets the accreditation requirements. Border Force expressly requires an interactive training event, a knowledge check and auditable records.
Since January 2026, drivers employed by accredited operators can also benefit from the scheme’s penalty reductions. Where an accredited company and its employed driver can demonstrate full compliance with the security regulations, the discounts available under the penalty code can reduce the driver’s penalty for carrying clandestine entrants to £0.
