Suspected migrants 'cut into roof' says removal firm

A company that specialises in international removals believes suspected migrants cut a hole in the roof of a lorry to gain access before it left France for the UK.

Video footage on social media appears to show four people crawling out of the top of an HGV while it was parking in a lay-by before jumping to the ground and running away in Maldon, Essex, just before 16:00 BST on Monday.

John Scott, director of Algarve Removals, said the vehicle had suffered "significant damage", including a hole in the roof and that the rear doors had remained sealed.

Essex Police said a man aged in his 60s, who was initially arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration into the UK, had been released with no further action.

Algarve Removals, a specialist removals company for moves to the UK from Spain and Portugal, has a warehouse near the lay-by in Maldon.

Scott said: "We are working with the police in their investigation currently. We would like to categorically confirm that we do not condone this and are deeply upset and frustrated this has happened to our company.

"Having traded for over 30 years, we have never experienced an incident of this nature before. The security of our vehicles is something we take extremely seriously at all times."

He said the vehicle had been subject to a security inspection by French and UK Border Force in Calais and no issues had been raised.

"At this stage, I can share that we believe the individuals gained access to the trailer through the roof. The rear doors remained sealed and secured with a security locking device throughout," he said.

The company believes a large hole cut into the roof allowed people to gain access during a stay at a secure truck stop near Rouen, two hours south of Calais, during an overnight stay.

"The trailer did not stop from the point it left Rouen to arrive at our location," Scott said.

A lay-by close to the company's warehouse is used when the yard is busy, he added.

Scott said attempts to access commercial vehicles "remains a challenge across the transport industry".

A Home Office spokesperson told the BBC: "We are relentless in our pursuit of people-smuggling gangs and stand ready to respond to all methods, including lorries and other clandestine routes.

"That's why the Home Secretary has set out the most sweeping reforms to tackle illegal migration in modern times, removing incentives which draw people to the UK illegally and making it easier to remove and deport them."

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