Peterborough: Illegal Immigrants Found

14 December 2012, 14:23 | Updated: 14 December 2012, 14:34

Border Force officers have discovered 12 illegal immigrants hiding in a lorry heading to Peterborough.

The Turkish-registered lorry was one of four lorries searched by officials at the Port of Calais in France.

A total of 31 illegal immigrants were found hiding in the four lorries.

The other vehicles were bound for Accrington, Barton-upon-Humber and the Republic of Ireland.

Border Force officials found the people on board the vehicles by using heart-rate monitors and a detector dog.

All the stowaways were handed over to the French border police and the vehicles allowed to continue their journeys.

Paul Morgan, Director Border Force South East & Europe, said:"Border Force officers work round the clock to keep the UK border secure.

 This incident shows why we base Border Force staff in France - to stop would-be illegal immigrants before they reach our shores. 

Our strong presence in French ports like Calais and close collaboration with the French authorities helps protect the whole of the UK from people attempting to enter the country illegally.

As well as using sniffer dogs, officers also use heartbeat detectors, carbon dioxide probes and physical searches to find people hiding in vehicles."

UK Border Agency Op