What is a Clandestine Entrant?
A clandestine entrant is someone who enters the UK illegally by hiding in or on a vehicle, most commonly a lorry or trailer. This method of entry is frequently encountered at ports and through the Channel Tunnel. Hauliers are often unaware that stowaways are inside their vehicle until discovered by border authorities, making vigilance and preventative security measures essential.
Clandestine entry continues to be one of the most serious operational and financial risks for hauliers entering the UK. With stricter legislation and new Border Force enforcements, the cost of failing to secure a vehicle can be devastating for both drivers and operators.
The Road Haulage Association (RHA) estimates that cross-Channel clandestine entry costs the industry around £1 billion per year in fines, delays, damage, insurance claims, and lost revenue.
Both the driver and the operator of the vehicle (usually the employer or transport company) can be fined. The law imposes joint and several liabilities, meaning that either party can be held responsible for the full amount of the penalty, regardless of fault.
The Civil Penalty Scheme now imposes substantial fines:
- £6,000 starting fine for the driver per clandestine entrant
- £10,000 starting fine for the company per clandestine entrant
This brings the combined liability to £16,000 per person, and the cost escalates quickly if multiple entrants are discovered. Additional penalties apply if vehicles are unsecured, even when no stowaways are present, with fines up to £6,000 per vehicle or £12,000 for multiple vehicles. Repeat offences and inadequate security systems may also attract higher fines.
Why Does Clandestine Entry Keep Happening?
Clandestine entry persists because of operational, environmental, and criminal factors. Drivers have limited visibility of the exterior of their vehicles, particularly curtain-sided trailers or double-deckers, making it easier for individuals to hide.
High-risk areas such as Calais, Dunkirk, and Zeebrugge remain active hotspots. Reports indicate that criminal gangs are using increasingly sophisticated tactics, including distraction and threats, to force access to vehicles.
Additionally, unsecured parking areas, poorly lit loading bays, and time pressures contribute to vulnerability. Drivers may unintentionally abbreviate checks under operational stress, creating openings that organised groups exploit.
What Drivers Must Do When Crossing Borders
Drivers are legally responsible for taking all reasonable steps to prevent clandestine entry. This includes:
- Securing vehicles at the point of loading using approved locks, seals, and devices.
- Checking for signs of unauthorised access immediately after loading.
- Maintaining a checklist of security checks throughout the journey.
- Using secure, accredited parking wherever possible.
Border Force provides a Clandestine Entrant Checklist to guide drivers through the process: Link
Instructional video: Link
Documented evidence of these checks is crucial in reducing or avoiding penalties if a clandestine entrant is found.
Impact Across the Industry
The RHA has called for improvements to the Civil Penalty Scheme, citing “systematic failures” that unfairly penalise compliant hauliers. Some EU hauliers have withdrawn from UK routes entirely due to rising fines, operational delays, and increased risks to drivers.
High-profile cases, such as the Essex couple fined £1,500 after a stowaway was found in their vehicle, demonstrate that enforcement is uncompromising—even for those who attempt to report suspicious activity.
With fines now reaching £16,000 per clandestine entrant for driver and operator combined, the financial stakes are higher than ever, making proactive, documented security measures essential for all hauliers operating in the UK.
What Operators Should Do to Prevent Incidents
Operators are jointly liable with drivers and face the most significant financial risk. Compliance begins with organisational and vehicle-level measures, such as joining the UK Border Force Civil Penalty Accreditation Scheme, which recognises companies with strong security systems and can reduce fines.
Investment in vehicle security is essential. This includes high-security locks, seals, tamper-evident devices, and cameras, as well as telematics or door sensors that detect unauthorised access. Operators should also conduct spot checks before vehicles depart EU depots or staging points and plan routes to avoid high-risk areas.
How Cameras can help
Vehicle camera systems can be vital in preventing clandestine entry and protecting both drivers and operators from severe penalties. While manual checks and physical security measures remain essential, on-vehicle CCTV adds a powerful additional layer of safety that supports real-time monitoring, evidence gathering, and compliance.
Drivers often have limited visibility of the sides and rear of the vehicle—precisely the areas where clandestine entrants attempt access. Exterior cameras mounted on rear doors, trailer sides, or high vantage points give a clear view of blind spots. This visibility is particularly valuable when stationary in traffic near ports, where most intrusion attempts occur.
How ACSS Can Help
We provide a comprehensive camera and telematics solution designed specifically to address the risks of unauthorised entry, tampering, and security breaches. Our cargo monitoring system is engineered to support operators overall operational efficiency.
The camera is engineered to perform reliably in low-light conditions and inside enclosed spaces, ensuring that loading areas, doors, and cargo bays always remain visible. This significantly reduces the risk of clandestine entry, especially during periods when trailers are stationary in high-risk locations or left unattended at depots. With door sensors and event-based recording, the system captures every instance of a door opening, providing clear evidence of who accessed the trailer and when.
One of the key strengths of the solution is its ability to operate as a fully trailer-mounted system. Powered by long-life internal batteries and supported by solar charging, it functions independently without relying on tractor power. This makes it ideal for operators who frequently drop trailers, reposition units, or leave vehicles parked for extended periods. The camera remains active, capturing footage and logging events throughout the trailer’s entire journey and downtime.
The cloud platform also enables operators to remotely wake the camera at any time to perform live checks. This ability to view real-time snapshots or recorded footage from the depot or office provides a level of oversight that manual checks alone cannot achieve. Operators can verify door integrity, inspect loading conditions, or monitor trailers parked overnight without sending personnel on site.
Smart Trailers, Real Results.
Event detection is fully automated. When a door is opened, a loading event begins, or movement is detected inside the trailer, the system records the activity and uploads it to the cloud. This creates a complete, time-stamped audit trail that can be accessed for compliance, operational reviews, or evidence when dealing with Border Force investigations. It also ensures that no incidents go unnoticed, even if the driver is off-duty or away from the vehicle.
In addition to security, the system delivers valuable operational insight. Journey durations, parking time, mileage, and trailer utilisation can all be monitored remotely. This helps operators identify slow routes, under-used trailers, and inefficiencies within the fleet. The data supports better planning, reduces unnecessary mileage, and improves overall trailer performance across the operation.
