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ARTICLE · 10 SEPTEMBER 2024

New Clandestine Entrant Appeal Case: International Transport Operators May Be Puzzled

In KLG Trucking SRL v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] EWCA Civ 737, the Court of Appeal upheld the imposition of significant penalties for transporting clandestine entrants, despite the truck operator's compliance efforts. The case highlights a shift in penalties, now £10,000 per entrant, and a stricter approach, even if robust anti-clandestine measures are in place. Operators must prepare for increased legal costs and potential County Court appeals, where even full compliance

United KingdomLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration

A new case relating to penalties imposed on operators, owners and drivers who carry concealed persons seeking to enter the UK illegally (clandestine entrants) will be a cause of concern to international road and passenger transport businesses.

In it, the Court of Appeal stated:

"...the mere fact that a vehicle owner has not been shown to have failed to comply" with the regulations does not provide "a good reason either for declining to impose any penalty or for imposing one at a lower level than indicated by the Penalty Code".

This is KLG Trucking SRL v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] EWCA Civ 737 (02 July 2024).

Background to the case

There has been a clandestine entrant civil penalty scheme for some time. But, this was beefed up in February 2023 by a significant hike in the penalty that can be imposed against drivers, owners and operators where clandestine entrants are carried within their goods vehicles.

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