Lorry driver attacked by gang of 15 migrants in Calais

Migrants pass haulage trucks entering the Port of Calais 

Credit:  Bloomberg

When he arrived at the port, a heart monitor check gave the all-clear to his lorry but a neighbouring truck had to be opened up revealing “something like a Butlins’ Holiday Camp, there were loads of migrants in there,” said Mr Couper, who was left with cuts and bruises from the attack.

“They are just running riot around Calais. I think someone one day will get killed. There hasn’t been a problem for about three years at the port but now it is just as bad as it ever was.”

Migrants climb into the back of lorries bound for Britain

Credit: AFP

The Home Office anticipated the traffickers’ potential switch from boats to lorries last month when it earmarked a portion of the extra £28 million for surveillance and a doubling of gendarmes on the beaches to pay for extra security measures at other commercial ferry ports.

Paul Mummery, press executive at the RHA, said it was a “perfect storm” as smugglers told migrants they needed to get to the UK before December 31 and the displacement of migrants from boat crossings to haulage.

“We are seeing an upsurge in problems as there is more desperation to get here as soon as possible. Their preferred route is to sneak into the back of the lorry. They put obstacles in the road to slow the trucks down so they can jump in the back,” said Mr Mummery.

“If that doesn’t work, they assault the driver and cause criminal damage to the trucks. It’s all part of the intimidation process to bully the drivers into letting them into the back.”

The number of migrants crossing on small boats has increased to 8,500 so far this year, more than seven times the figure for 2019, leading to the new agreement with the French to try to prevent departures from the beaches. Britain is also pressing for a new deal for France to take back any migrants caught on sea or land.

The Home Office said it was “going after” the criminal smuggling gangs, and had invested tens of millions in border security with all freight vehicles entering the UK screened for migrants which included using carbon dioxide detectors and motion sensors as well as sniffer dogs to detect any illegal migrants.