As details of the tragedy in Essex begin to emerge, the migrants who died now appear to be of Chinese origin, Richard Burnett, CEO of the Road Haulage Association (RHA) was interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Lives’ programme and commented that the case highlighted the fact that these matters don’t just involve goods, but people’s lives. When asked if he thought that Border Force were on top of the situation, he replied:
“If I’m honest, no, my sense is that for a long time we have not been listened to. We have not been taken seriously as an industry. For years we have been shouting from the rooftops that these things have been happening week in and week out. Despite this I think that the drivers who are making these journeys feel that they are not being heard; that they’re not being listened to or supported. We have tried hard with the Home Office and with Border Force to make sure that the drivers making the journey from the European mainland to the UK have a voice.
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