A letter sent out to security staff at Manston Lorry Park alleges that some lorry drivers are presenting forged covid test papers, while lorry park staff are accused of offering drugs and having sex while on the job.
Manston was of course rammed-full of lorries in late-December following France’s decision to close its border to accompanied freight. Thousands of lorry drivers ended up spending Christmas on the site of the former airport, which was criticised for its lack of facilities. The lorry park is still being used today as a testing site.
According to the aforementioned letter, seen by Kent Online, security company Rightguard writes that there were “a number of reports” of staff both taking and offering drugs while on shift. It adds that “2 operatives” that had been found in possession of drugs were also dismissed from the site. Moreover, the letter states that there were reports of “sexual encounters taking place on the site during the night shift.”
🎧 On tonight’s podcast 🎧
🚛 Hear from worker at #COVID19 testing site where leaked letter reveals staff warned about sex, drugs & fake results
❌ More calls for #FOLKESTONE barracks to be evacuated
👋 Teen urges others not to become more isolatedhttps://t.co/ZZuy1bddO2— KentOnline (@Kent_Online) February 5, 2021
According to one unnamed staff member interviewed by Kent online, lots of marijuana was being smoked on the site and that other “recreational drugs” were being taken too. He added that there are now searches taking place for those entering Manston Lorry Park, though this additional measure was “very recent”.
The security worker also said that he’d heard of sex taking place in one of the on-site containers. He even admitted that he had received no training whatsoever and that he had no idea where the fire escape was.
Besides the headline-grabbing allegations concerning sex and drugs, the letter alleges some Rightguard staff left the workplace a “mess” and did not carry out their sticker collecting duties.
In addition, the letter says that all lorry drivers entering Manston should be tested for coronavirus as some truckers are presenting forged covid test results. On top of that, there are allegations of verbal abuse being dished out to military staff and reports of vehicles “clocking up a lot of miles” on night shifts.
The letter concludes by saying that if the above allegations are proven, the staff members concerned will be dismissed. Investigations are underway and the Department for Transport has also been made aware of the situation.