Lorry drivers are boycotting the Port of Calais because they fear for their lives at the hands of illegal immigrants desperate to get into the UK.
Drivers from Maru International haulage company are avoiding the French city where thousands of immigrants, predominantly from Africa, have set up home, according to the Daily Mail.
As Breitbart London reported in October, predominantly African gangs gather by the side of the motorway leading to the freight entrance to the port, some running across the road in front of cars as they try to illegally stow away to the UK.
The UK border has been moved to Calais to try to help the British prevent migrants from getting into the UK where they expect to be able to work as well as access education, housing and healthcare benefits. But there have been ongoing arguments between the British and the French authorities in Calais, who say the government is not doing enough to deter the constant stream of migrants blighting their city.
One lorry driver even said he is “frightened for his life” by the migrants, who he saw breaking into a truck in front of him with a crow bar. Michael Pearson, a driver for the company, said:
“A group of maybe 20 or 30 people, crowbar in hand, broke the padlock off the truck in front, broke the security seal and opened the doors.
“If I think about it now, I’m in fear of my life and I’m not by myself on this, several of my colleagues also spoke about that.
“Their attitude, their whole goal is just to get to the UK irrespective of what damage, or damage to persons, vehicles, property they cause, it doesn’t matter.
“They were raising fists, there was a bloke with an iron bar because I was blowing the horn to alert the driver in front that they were getting into his trailer. That’s the bit they don’t like, blowing your horn. I was terrified because I’m on my own and if you get out – you can’t get out – because your life’s in danger.
“It’s only a matter of time before somebody is seriously injured, killed or windows are smashed and people are dragged out of their trucks. It’s an unbelievable experience to go through.”
The managing director of the firm, Vaughan Woolfitt, said the company would now be travelling through a Belgian port. He said the behaviour of the immigrants was “extremely intimidating” and added the French and UK authorities “should be working really hard to make sure that trade is unhindered and our drivers shouldn’t have to go to work fearing for their safety.”
A video has shown the violent behaviour of the immigrants, storming a lorry as it boarded a ferry bound for Britain. The migrants stowed away but were understood to have been stopped by border authorities before leaving France.
Britain gave £12 million to Calais to help with security and provided metal fencing but the attempts to get to the UK continue unabated.
South East MEP Ray Finch “This situation is entirely due to the facts that successive British government have failed to restore control of our borders to Westminster.”
The UKIP politician said, “Instead of sending some metal fences and talking about net migration the government need to realise that having an open door to the whole of the EU and no borders between the whole Schengen area is putting trade at risk as well as the well-being of people trying to earn a living.”
Many tourists are now choosing to travel via Dunkirk instead of Calais to avoid the intimidating gangs.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.