Trouble at Calais

[Val_2]

Poor BIL, not only running the gauntlet of diesel alley but when he uses the Stinky express he suffers more abuse from the "sweaty e.european arm pit brigade". The brit truckers hate the tunnel with a vengeance but sometimes they have no choice if they can't get on the ferries. Yes, Belgium is suffering too with truck stops close to ports a no go area now and as I said, many driv ers are putting a good few kms between them and the clandestins at the moment. My sister loses a lot of sleep when he is on the road.

[idun]

[:)]Benjamin I don't doubt that the belgian lady said 'lorry parks to the North of Calais'........ but it has made me smile. I didn't think that there was anything at all to the north of Calais, but sea...........and one could reach the north pole without touching land!

[Val_2]

Poor old BIL, stinky express broken down right at moment approx ten mins into tunnel from UK side. He is not a happy bunny!

[Gluestick]

Just reviving and updating an older thread, Mrs Gluey and I were in PdeC at our house in late October and early November.

Watching the news (TFI: we only have French TV as it is most useful for developing language skills using sous titrage), it seems the illegals have now formed gangs in the woods adjoining Calais. At one point the Gendarmerie and CRS went in to dispel groups; they have now formed ethnic gangs!

One threw a fragmentation grenade at the officers! Horrifying concept..... where did these "poor impoverished people" obtain such a weapon?

A few days ago, I watched a Channel4 Dispatches programme: it seems people smugglers are behind much of this.

Please do watch it:

See here:

If you run afoul of territorial problems then use a Proxy Server which ought to work.

For me, Betty nailed the core much earlier on.

Younger friends (he was rather like an adoptive son and has been my protégé) operate a very successful transport business and run specialised trucks all over Europe. As maximum driver hours are now law and tightly regulated and enforced, drivers are compelled to limit hours and thus seek to park up and sleep.

All the vehicles have to be fitted with extra door security, etc and gas detectors (as gangs stealing passports and wallets are operating all over the North), they try to inject gas into the cab to render drivers unconscious, smash the windows and break in. They even use ether based engine starter ( Ezistart etc).

All of which adds to operating cost and the consumer pays for it.

The root cause of these problems is Schengen: plus the mighty EU, instead of working effectively, fails to properly hold states such as Italy and Greece to account for permitting the free circulation of illegal immigrants.

[lindal1000]

I think you'll find the root causes of these problems are traffickers, many with Mafia connections, out to make as much money as possible from their human cargo. Many are seeking what they are led to believe is a better life than the abject poverty from which they have come from, and believe the lie that is continually propagated that the benefit system in Britain is the most generous in the world . (The reality is that they would be better off in France, Switzerland and Sweden, all countries who offer political asylum to genuine refugees..but it is easier for the traffickers to drop them off and point them in the direction of Calais. I can't see how not being in the EU would make any difference at all as these are not EU citizens moving for work. Landlocked borders are always very difficult to police unless you put up a wall for the entire length..and once someone is in a country how do you spot that they are illegal unless they do something to draw attention to themselves? Incidentally we drove through Calais end of October in our van and didn't see a soul.

[Théière]

[quote user="lindal1000"].but it is easier for the traffickers to drop them off and point them in the direction of Calais. [/quote]

It's not down to easy, it's marketing. Breaking the journey down into sections each stage requires another payment so increasing the income stream for the traffickers.  The promised land is the UK so that leg has the highest fee to gain a chance of getting across.

Good report Gluey, just a bit doubtful over the easystart into lorries, easy to knock someone out but get the amount wrong and they won't wake up. It tends to be the stuff of urban legend. Any reports of deaths as to find out if a whole can or half or even a quarter of a can would do it will mean fatalities as not everyone is knocked out with the same dose otherwise being an anesthetist would be easy.  Also easy start has annoying habit of bursting into flames with the slightest spark so the odd burned out lorry complete with driver would by now have hit the headlines.

[Pierre ZFP]

Yes but a truck did get burned out last week at Dunkerque.

A bit different I know as the fire started in the load where 2 bodies were found in the wreakage.  Did they have a can of something volatile or just having a fag? we will never know.

I've been to Calais in the last 2 weekends, one weekend there were very many wandering around on the Autoroute (someone is going to get killed there), huge tailback of trucks as the port was on strike! (Grrrr)  Last weekend, wet and cold and P&O was cancelling ships left right and centre (Grrr Grrrr), not a soul

[Gluestick]

Well, sorry to differ, however:

Here:

Here:

Here:

[Théière]

[quote user="Gluestick"]Well, sorry to differ, however:

Here:

Here:

Here:

[/quote]

Thanks Gluey, they are the first actual reports I have seen in a good few years on the forums, a number of unsubstanciated reports each summer but no evidence so appreciate that and where you are situated close to the ports, I would imagine you hear more of this than me out in the sticks.  Certainly need to be careful on my overnight runs.