Surly French lorry drivers have threatened to block goods from entering the UK unless checks to stop migrants arriving become more lenient.
They have complained that Border Force inspections to ensure migrants are not hiding in the back of wagons are too harsh. The French National Road Transport Federation has even described its members as being “victims”.
Unless the checks are made less stringent, they have threatened a blockade.
David Sagnard, the federation’s president, said: “I have colleagues who find themselves ordered to pay fines to the British, which can be as high as £12,000 for the driver and £12,000 for the haulier. We end up with drivers who no longer want to go to England.”
He added: “The British impose a certain number of checkpoints on us, seals, security cables.
“Everything must be checked every time the truck stops. But migrants can get on during a slowdown.
“We can’t be treated like we are today, we are the victims.
“The British don’t want to listen to the distress of our members. If they continue, we will make them come, by blocking the border. No more goods will arrive in England.”
Thousands of migrants still make the journey via lorry to Britain each year. Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migrant Watch UK, said: “This is shocking. What gives them the right to make these threats and demands?”
And retail expert Paul Dyer said such a move would cause economic chaos.
“I sincerely hope this is an empty threat because that would cause mayhem. It would hit the economy badly.”
Lorry drivers caught with migrants face a £10,000 fine. The Home Office said nearly £10million worth of fines in 1,276 cases were issued to hauliers last year after people trying to enter Britain illegally were found.
