Britain’s Road Haulage Association (RHA) is urging France to deploy the military to Calais as it fears one of its members could be killed with the threatening situation at the Port showing no sign of diminishing.
Up to 6,000 migrants are currently encamped in and around the Northern French Port of Calais – vital artery for several transport services across and under the English Channel
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“Despite the fact there are now approximately 1,300 security operatives being deployed at Calais [CRS riot police and French gendarmerie], we are deeply concerned this is still not enough to handle the ever increasing number of migrants who are, quite literally, honing in on the Port to attempt the crossing from mainland Europe to the UK on the back of a truck,” said RHA chief executive, Richard Burnett.
“This is the busiest time of the year for hauliers with 90% of the volume of freight moved by road to the UK coming via this vital and most economically viable trade route. Security at Eurotunnel has been stepped up and at the moment this seems to be proving effective.
“The downside is it has simply moved migrant focus to the vulnerable areas of the Port itself. In addition, migrant activity on the Port approach roads remains a massive issue and many hauliers will no longer stop within 150 miles of Calais unless absolutely necessary. This must also be addressed.”
Desperate migrants fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan are flooding into Western Europe, many destined for Germany, but a considerable number are also camped out at Calais with an eye to crossing the English Channel to the UK using Eurostar, Le Shuttle and ferry services.
However, the RHA maintains despite the considerable number of security guards on duty , only around 300-400 will be working at any one time on a shift basis, leading the Association to urge the British government to push its French counterparts far harder to act.
“I must stress the security forces at Calais are doing their best,” added Burnett. “But their numbers must be increased and their activities need to be proactive – not reactive.
“Now is the time for the Association’s calls for deployment of the French military to contain the situation be heeded and urgently acted upon.
“Increased security will not make the problem disappear overnight, but it will certainly act as a deterrent and will surely help to prevent my worst fear from becoming a reality; that an HGV driver wishing for no more to complete his journey in safety is killed.”
