UK Edition
A gang of 15 migrants attacked a British lorry driver with a rock in a bid to cross the Channel amid warnings that drivers are now being targeted.
The Road Haulage Association (RHA) said migrants had switched to threatening drivers with violence in an attempt to bully them into taking them across the Channel as traffickers exploited their fears that it will be harder to reach the UK after Britain leaves the single market on December 31.
It warned it had contributed to a “perfect storm” as it coincided with the introduction of tougher measures by France and the UK to prevent boats leaving the beaches and winter closing in which meant sea crossings were less attractive.
Andy Couper, 57, told The Telegraph how he was attacked with rocks by up to 15 migrants as he was stuck in a queue waiting to board at Calais in his lorry filled with vegetables.
“I could sense someone trying to get into the lorry. I looked down and within seconds there were 15 of them laughing at me. The next minute I hear someone hit the truck and the second after that, the whole passenger window caves in,” he said.
“They all try to jump into the cab. I drive off slowly with my hand on the horn to attract attention to anyone in the area. But there are no police. Another brick came through and I managed to drive off slowly and they started to attack the truck behind me.”
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.”
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.