Sales of CCTV cameras for British HGV fleets has shot up 20 per cent due to the growing problem of illegal immigrants breaking into lorries at French ports.

Haulage companies are having to equip their lorries with SmartWitness 360 degree CCTV systems and sensors on cab and rear doors in order to avoid £2,000 fines for every illegal stowaway brought into the UK.

Several HGV companies are facing bankruptcy due to crippling fines and in the past six years £12.4m were handed out to HGV operators caught with illegal stowaways, and in 2013/14 there was a four-fold increase in the number of fines making it the worst year on record at £4.2m.

Illegal immigrants based at Calais are breaking into lorries in much greater numbers – a situation made worse by a strike which forced the closure of the Port of Calais last week.

More than 350 stowaways were caught in four hours at the peak of the congestion caused by the strike.
To combat the huge rise in illegal stowaways several HGV drivers have installed SmartWitness 360-degree CCTV cameras and sensors which can be viewed from the cab and also send text message alerts to the driver’s phone if they are away from the vehicle.

SmartWitness International Sales Director Mark Berry said: “We have received an unprecedented number of orders from UK haulage firms who are having to take precautionary measures to prevent illegal immigrants from getting on board their lorries.

“With our 360-degree cameras, drivers can see the whole way round their HGV and are alerted immediately on the video screens in their cabs when stowaways are trying to break-in. Drivers receive a text message if there is a suspected break-in so they can take immediate preventative action.”

Hauliers Brian Yeardley Continental, based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, fitted SmartWitness cameras to its 51 lorries and its eight company cars in part due to the stowaway problem.

Managing director Kevin Hopper said: “Last year we did over 5,000 crossing both ways across the English Channel and we had a total of five immigrants found in our trailers.

“Despite record numbers of stowaways trying to get in the UK, we have not had any incidents since fitting the SmartWitness cameras.

“We take serious measures to ensure our vehicles are protected and sealed and our drivers are fully trained and aware of the immigrant problems in Calais and other ports

“Our trucks spend 90% of their time in Europe – mainly Spain, Portugal, France and Italy. We constantly try to ensure our drivers’ safety and welfare is protected and stowaways are prevented from getting on board.

“Our drivers are often away for up to eight weeks at a time and it gives me peace of mind knowing that when they are parked up, the cameras are there to help protect them from stowaways and thieves.”

The SmartWitness cameras have also helped  Brian Yeardley to reduce its insurance bill from £135,000 a year to £110,000.

The system is recommended by major insurers for hauliers, fleet managers and private motorists. It is officially approved by Transport for London.”

Home Office figures show that £4.2 million of fines were imposed on hauliers last year – up from £1 million on the previous year.

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SmartWitness

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