Beware of immigrants (1 Viewer)

[euroliner]

Beware of immigrants

Please be aware when returning from any continental ports. We returned home from Bilbao this week overnighted on the docks many other motor homes caravans parked with us We boarded the ferry the following morning sailed no problem docked next morning The police checked inside of van at customs no problem 84 miles from Portsmouth there was such a bang thought I had blown a tyre pulled in to a lay by got out to check was amazed a young man rolled from under van we had a uninvited passenger he made of down the road I phoned straight away reported it The police rang back said they had caught him and we were ok to finish our journey I got under van and was shocked to find rags around prop shaft wires broken hanging down I made all as safe as possible and luckily continued our journey home Have yet to find out full damage fridge not working step won’t go in still to find out we’re broken wires are from So please be very vigilant especially when you overnight near or at any ports This way Bilbao not Calais were you think it might happen.

 

[Boringfrog]

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/bilbao-port.165168/

 

[Chris51]

Hope they don't try to get under my van -its covered in Waxoil/thinned with diesel to keep rust at bay!

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[Blue Knight]

Just think if he had dropped off under the wheels.

I hope your van is OK - what a shame.

 

[TerryL]

I used to lower the suspension on the coach before letting the passengers back on whilst stopping at Citie Europe................................

 

[Larrynwin]

That could have been nasty Rae, if not for you and Jackie , your stowaway could have made a real mess on the road.

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[rosalan]

I am so sorry to hear of your damage and confess that I did not look under my van when leaving France. It does go to show how much danger they are willing to risk to get into the UK. Any more come and I might have to leave you all to deal with them, if there are any of us left.

 

[Wildbill]

why don't folks just look under there vehicle before bording it's not hard to do
bill

 

[Vanman]

why don't folks just look under there vehicle before bording it's not hard to do
bill

Of course you're right Bill, in a perfect world. Most of us have enough difficulty remembering to unhook the ECU, lock the fridge, secure the galley ... when the checklist gets to looking under the van, checking the air filter for Ebola, digging the killer bees out of the air intake, the wife has probably used the loo again and put the kettle on

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[Wildbill]

Of course you're right Bill, in a perfect world. Most of us have enough difficulty remembering to unhook the ECU, lock the fridge, secure the galley ... when the checklist gets to looking under the van, checking the air filter for Ebola, digging the killer bees out of the air intake, the wife has probably used the loo again and put the kettle on

looking under the van, checking the air filter for Ebola, digging the killer bees out of the air intake
wouldn't bother with most of that but always have a wee look under the van if i have parked near to the ferry port the night before.
bill

 

[The Wino]

Wouldn't you have thought the ports would have cameras on the road surface at the entrance to check?

 

[Mikey RV]

Hope no one crawls under mine would put me overweight.
We have had them check us at Poole on the way to France, inside and they went round the outer edge with a mirror on a pole.

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[Mr Colpot]

I always check under and on top when we park up to shop in Calais. I also check in the shower cubicle as well which is more than the Soldiers did at the Tunnel last week - they asked me to open the back doors glanced inside and that was it.

 

[irnbru]

I think the whole security checking needs to have a major overhaul at all ports. We recently came back via Ijmuiden and no one bothered to search our van for stowaways.

 

[MR. FUSION]

I think the whole security checking needs to have a major overhaul at all ports. We recently came back via Ijmuiden and no one bothered to search our van for stowaways.

For the prices DFDS charge from Newcastle, I thought I was paying for extra passengers

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[irnbru]

For the prices DFDS charge from Newcastle, I thought I was paying for extra passengers

£150 including the dog is reasonable I think.

 

[fleurette]

Boy !!! what a shock for you, just glad that your ok and hopefully what damage there is to the van can be sorted out quickly

 

[MR. FUSION]

£150 including the dog is reasonable I think.

Is that winter prices? It was nearly £900 return for 2 passengers and a sub 6 metre van In may last year, out of school hols I was trying to book 2 months ahead as well!

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[MR. FUSION]

Beware of immigrants

Please be aware when returning from any continental ports. We returned home from Bilbao this week overnighted on the docks many other motor homes caravans parked with us We boarded the ferry the following morning sailed no problem docked next morning The police checked inside of van at customs no problem 84 miles from Portsmouth there was such a bang thought I had blown a tyre pulled in to a lay by got out to check was amazed a young man rolled from under van we had a uninvited passenger he made of down the road I phoned straight away reported it The police rang back said they had caught him and we were ok to finish our journey I got under van and was shocked to find rags around prop shaft wires broken hanging down I made all as safe as possible and luckily continued our journey home Have yet to find out full damage fridge not working step won’t go in still to find out we’re broken wires are from So please be very vigilant especially when you overnight near or at any ports This way Bilbao not Calais were you think it might happen.

Hope you get everything sorted
Looks like I will be adding another one of these to my van tool box

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/282732216595

 

[colyboy]

But if you are overnighting in the Cite de Europe which we do very often ( where we feel VERY safe). And some one decides to cling under your van. they will not know which direction you are going and there is every chance they could end in the south of France, Spain or Morocco.

colyboy

 

[Glandwr]

Can't see one hooking themselves under at the port. Bilbao to Portsmouth much more likely to have settled under the van on the car deck.

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[MR. FUSION]

But if you are overnighting in the Cite de Europe which we do very often ( where we feel VERY safe). And some one decides to cling under your van. they will not know which direction you are going and there is every chance they could end in the south of France, Spain or Morocco.

colyboy

Definately zero to poor Bennies in those countries....

 

[Khizzie]

Crossed last week to caen from Portsmouth with trai!er !loaded up with all my worldly goods waved through both ends...thank the Lord.would have been interesting had they wanted to check..lol

 

[Podney]

How desperate he must have been. To cling to the underside of a vehicle to try and start a new life in another country must take a lot of guts,and of course desperation. I hope he is now being well cared for in this country before being sent back.

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[Mikey RV]

How desperate he must have been. To cling to the underside of a vehicle to try and start a new life in another country must take a lot of guts,and of course desperation. I hope he is now being well cared for in this country before being sent back.

The sad thing is they are so desperate and he will proberly try again.

 

[The Wino]

Probably won't be sent back claim asylum or some other get out but from my point of view just the sort of person to get off their backside and make a sucess of life in this country. As a cypriot porter at university pointed out 35 years ago he was here by choice everyone else by accident!!

 

[WillH]

My view on this is that the migrant would have secured himself under the van on the ferry, not in the port.

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[Dorwyn]

My view on this is that the migrant would have secured himself under the van on the ferry, not in the port.

I was thinking the same. He couldn't have been there for the whole 24 hrs or whatever in the hold, most likely transferred from another vehicle having had a good look around the hold and with time to choose the best vehicle. And the rags used to strap himself under would have taken a while to sort and fit. As someone said earlier, poor fellow having to trust his luck like that. It's a wonder he didn't fall out going over the ramps!

 

[PhilandMena]

How desperate he must have been. To cling to the underside of a vehicle to try and start a new life in another country must take a lot of guts,and of course desperation. I hope he is now being well cared for in this country before being sent back.

Agreed, although he will probably apply for asylum and be here for a while at our expence even if rejected.
I wonder how an escaped ex Isis fighter would cross into the U.K. probably got a diplomatic immunity pass and full UK passport.

 

[WillH]

The tightest security I have seen is at the Calais end of the tunnel, there are security measures in place there that would probably be deemed unsafe in the UK. One of the favourite, but lesser known, routes for immigrants is through the Cairnryan Ports, these ports have been used for over twenty years as they are not, strictly speaking, a border.

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