The Freight Transport Association is pressing the French government to take action on the migrant situation in Calais, which has been described as ‘like a war zone’ by some of its members.

FTA Deputy Chief Executive James Hookham spoke to Immigration and Security Minister James Brokenshire about drivers’ latest experiences at the port, where migrant numbers have swelled from 200 to around 3,000 and violent confrontations have been reported.

  
Hookham said, “I was provided with a full briefing by the Minister on latest developments, including the installation of new security fencing and additional checks being carried out to keep migrants away from vehicles and to defend the UK border against clandestine entry. FTA was briefed on the measures the British government is taking to protect truck drivers transiting Calais and the diplomatic moves to engage the French government and other EU Member States in responding to the desperate and increasingly dangerous tactics being employed by people traffickers to gain access to vehicles for clandestine entry into Britain.”
 
FTA members have been advising drivers not to refuel or take rest stops near Calais and many are taking detours of around 100 miles to avoid the port altogether because of the escalating problems.
 
Hookham added, “We are expecting further work with the Home Office and Border Agency on specific topics in the coming weeks.”