Operational delays are serious, but human trafficking will be the main threat to lorry traffic in case of a No-Deal Brexit
10 Dec 2020
The uncertain situation regarding the unfruitful Brexit negotiations, and a potential British crash out of the EU on 31 December will benefit human traffickers, who can exploit migrants' hopes of crossing the Channel, framing the no-deal as a hard deadline of entry into the UK.
By Kristian Bischoff, Europe analyst
Areas located outside the UK itself, the many ferry ports and links to the British Isles from Northern France and Belgium, will experience a significant threat of stowaways in late 2020 and going into 2021, impacting all transport operators transporting goods to the British Isles. And the threat is likely to increase.
Large numbers of migrants continue to linger in north-western Europe, waiting for a possibility to get to the UK either as stowaways or on organised human trafficking transports. As seen with previous Brexit deadlines, human traffickers will exploit uncertainty and try to push demand for transit to the UK, as they will attempt to convince migrants that this is their final chance.
The lack of progress in the Brexit negotiations between the UK government and the EU over 2020 have significantly increased the likelihood of a no-deal Brexit, meaning that border controls will have to be reinstated on international borders. Due to the major traffic on especially the Calais-Dover crossing, this will potentially lead to major congestion and queues.
As seen with previous Brexit deadlines, human traffickers will exploit uncertainty and try to push demand for transit to the UK, as they will attempt to convince migrants that this is their final chance before the deadline. Following the British exit, with migrants in Calais being known for attempting to board lorries to the UK either on their own or with the help of traffickers, the prospect of long queues outside secured port and railway facilities is alarming. Lorries might be boarded as they are static outside the terminals, leading to ruined cargoes, lorries being caught up in major police responses, or possibly even violence against drivers.
While the French authorities have attempted to install new technology and streamline procedures ahead of the 31 December deadline, even small delays could lead to major congestion and lorries stranded outside secure areas. Hauliers should note this threat on top of operational delays, when taking a potential no-deal Brexit into account.
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