Transport boss boycotts Calais over migrants
Police called to suspected illegal immigrants in Fordham - Credit: Archant
Turners of Soham boss Paul Day said that receiving lorries from Calais has become 'too much of a risk' after another arrived at his depot with suspected illegal immigrants on board.
Fifteen suspected illegal migrants, believed to be from Iraq and Iran, were found in the back of a refrigerated lorry at his company's Fordham headquarters on Tuesday.
Mr Day said the discovery was the 12th of its kind in the past three years and he's now considering abandoning Calais completely in favour of Zeebrugge.
Police were called to Turners on Fordham Road just before 7am following reports of a 'banging noise' coming from the back of a vehicle.
When police opened the doors they found 15 men inside who were said to be of Iranian or Iraqi origin.
The ambulance service was also called to the scene but none of the men required hospital treatment. They have now been referred to the immigration service.
Police arrested the driver, a 42-year-old Bulgarian man, on suspicion of facilitating illegal entry to the UK.
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Mr Day says the decision to avoid Calais has been costly, 'but our main concern has to be for our drivers
He would 'have to think long and hard about receiving inbound lorries' from the French port.
He said the issues with illegal migrants tend to involve foreign hauliers delivering products via Calais. As a result the company now uses the Belgium port of Zeebrugge as its primary inbound port
Only last Thursday 12 suspected illegal immigrants – including at least one child - were seen at Landwade Road in Exning, near Newmarket, on Thursday.
Six were apprehended by police in Landwade Road after officers received at telephone call from a member of the public at 5.45pm.
Ryan Brunning, a spokesman for Suffolk Constabulary, said three more were detained by Cambridgeshire police while walking towards Fordham.
Mr Brunning said there was a possibility that three further people were still at large.
They are said to have got out of a Spanish-registered lorry.
In July 10 suspected illegal immigrants were also detained near Newmarket after they were seen fleeing from a lorry which had come from Calais.
Witnesses saw the group getting out of the lorry at about 10:10am on the A14 near the junction with the A142.
Seven were arrested at the scene on suspicion of illegal entry into the UK. Three were found in Exning.
