Finally make climbing into trucks punishable

“The damage to the barrier fences shows that transmigration continues to be a pressing problem in Flanders.” Transmigrants have damaged the barrier fences at several Flemish motorway parking lots. “This damage is unacceptable. This shows once again that the problem of illegal transmigration must be tackled in a structural manner. The ball is in Federal Minister De Block’s court.”

The problem is well known: hundreds of transmigrants want to go to the UK whatever it takes. They climb into trucks and break into port grounds, with all the risks that this entails for the drivers.

Fences, private surveillance and cameras

At the beginning of 2017, Minister Ben Weyts, who was in charge at the time, arranged for fencing, private surveillance and cameras on the motorway car parks along the E40 motorway. As a result, the safety of our lorry drivers was improved. “It now turns out that transmigrants have caused damage to the security fences in several car parks,” says the N-VA. The transmigrants make holes in the fence with battery-powered grinding wheels and then climb into the trucks.

Continue framework contracts for private security

The existing private security framework contracts will expire soon, however. “The damage to the barrier fences shows that transmigration continues to be a pressing problem in Flanders. We are thus calling on the competent minister to work on an extension of the framework contract to continue private surveillance and to increase the security of our motorway parking facilities,” the N-VA concludes.

Bill to criminalise climbing in is ready

Since 2016, breaking into the port has been a criminal offence. On this basis, six transmigrants were recently sentenced in Bruges to actual prison terms and a fine. On the other hand, climbing into a truck is still not punishable. “We are calling on Minister De Block to take this situation seriously and to implement a structural approach. Our bill to criminalise climbing into trucks is ready, so what is the federal level waiting for?”