RHA insists that French commitment to secure Calais becomes a reality
RHA chief executive Richard Burnett has written to the French Interior Minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, insisting that the Ministers recent commitment to maintain law and order in the Calais area is urgently acted upon.
This follows the recent migrant action which resulted in a total closure of the Port of Calais.
Commenting, Mr Burnett said: “I have stressed that while we welcome the Minister’s pledge, words are not enough. We need to see immediate action. Simply maintaining the current level of security at Calais is insufficient and we stand by our demand to see deployment of the French army. We maintain our view that this will provide an effective, solution to what cannot be allowed to be a long-term situation.
“The thousands of UK-bound hauliers, facing abuse and intimidation from migrants on a daily basis need protection now.”
The situation at Calais has become untenable. Not only for the thousands of UK-bound hauliers travelling through the Port on daily basis but also for the citizens of Calais who are now, in effect, being held hostage in their own homes. Local businesses are also suffering
Richard Burnett continued “The RHA is of the firm opinion that this issue can only be resolved by a joint approach by both the British and French governments. I have asked to meet with the French minister and have written to the Home Secretary also requesting an urgent meeting. This will enable us to brief Mrs May personally and explain in more detail why we believe that only the deployment of the French military can provide the short term relief so desperately needed if we are to avoid the death of a British driver.”
