In response to a case where a couple was fined for unknowingly bringing a migrant into the UK in their motorhome, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has stated that he will request the Home Office to investigate the matter. The incident occurred when Adrian and Joanne Fenton drove from France to their home in Heybridge, Essex, with the migrant hiding inside the cover of a bike rack. The Fentons were later fined £1,500 for not ensuring that there were no hidden entrants in their motorhome.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir expressed his concern over the situation faced by the Fentons and emphasized the importance of looking into the case. The Home Office previously mentioned that fines were aimed at negligence rather than criminality. Mr. Fenton, in an email to the Home Office, mentioned his surprise at being fined for taking what he believed was a correct and moral action.
The controversy surrounding the case led to a YouGov poll where over 4,500 British adults were asked if they thought it was fair for the Fentons to be fined. An overwhelming 81% of the respondents considered the fine to be unfair. The Fentons claimed that border officials in Calais and the UK did not inspect the bike rack or cover before or after they crossed via ferry, leading to the discovery of the migrant after a six-hour journey back home.
Retired firefighter Mr. Fenton shared the experience of finding the migrant with tight cover in the bike rack upon reaching home. Despite the couple contacting the police immediately upon discovery, they were still issued a fine by the Border Force. The Home Office email to the couple detailed the offense of failure to inspect properly and referenced asylum and immigration legislation in relation to the incident
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