In an article in the Freight Business Journal – Issue 7, 2023 hauliers are reporting that UK immigration officials are now fining operators for not sealing unaccompanied trailers with TIR cords when arriving from Ireland into UK ports.
Since January 2023 heavy fines have been imposed without warning under the Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Scheme.
Under the scheme owners, drivers, hirers and operators must secure their vehicles to prevent unauthorised access by clandestine entrants. This applies whether you are entering or departing the UK.
Fines of up to £6000 can be applied to operators of inadequately secured trailers where no clandestine entrant is found.
The rules were originally introduced under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 but not applied to Irish Sea routes until now.
