Guidance

Civil penalty accreditation scheme

Updated 1 January 2026

1. Introduction

The Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Accreditation Scheme recognises those hauliers who take measures to operate a robust system for securing goods vehicles and for preventing the carriage of clandestine entrants. It also recognises those coach companies that operate a robust system to prevent the carriage of clandestine entrants.

The scheme is open to all hauliers and coach companies travelling to the UK.

The scheme is free to join.

From 1st January 2026, any drivers who are employed by an accredited company at the time of an incident may also benefit from the scheme.

2. Benefits

• Civil penalties may be issued to both drivers and hauliers for the offences of failing to secure a goods vehicle and for the carriage of clandestine entrants. Members of the Home Office Accreditation Scheme may benefit from a reduction in the penalty amount that may be levied for those offences.

The discount that may be applied to members of the Scheme is 50% from the maximum penalty starting point for each offence. (Level of penalty code of practice (publishing.service.gov.uk)).

• At the time of the incident, if the driver is employed by the accredited company, they may also benefit from a reduction in penalty amount.

• Those who operate a robust security system are less likely to encounter incidents involving clandestine entrants. Clandestine entrant incidents can often lead to damaged goods and delays at the Border.
• Names of Accredited companies are placed onto the Gov website.

3. What is a ‘robust system?’

We assess effectiveness of the system operated by a company across 5 separate areas. For a system to be considered robust and sufficiently effective, the responsible company must meet the following requirements in these areas. These are:-

3.1 Provision of and maintenance of vehicle security

• Provide each driver with enough locks or uniquely numbered seals to ensure the vehicle remains secure throughout the journey.
• Provide every driver of a soft sided vehicle with a TIR cable or strap that is in good working condition.

3.2 Provision of a document to record checks

The Home Office provide a checklist for companies to give to their drivers that covers all the requirements of the Carriers’ Liability (Amendment) Regulations 2023. (Vehicle security checklist: road transport companies and drivers - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)). We recommend that you issue drivers with this checklist.

• Provide each driver with a sufficient number of checklists to record the required standard checks for each journey.
• Keep a record of the number of checklists issued and the date they were issued to each driver.
• Maintain copies of completed checklists for a period of 6 months.
• Ensure the checklist enables all the checks required under the Carriers’ Liability (Amendment) Regulations 2023.
• E-checklists are accepted, they must include the same checks as the paper copy

3.3 Driver instructions

• Provide every driver (including temporary drivers) with a set of instructions in their preferred language specifically detailing:
  • how to secure the vehicle
  • how to record and complete checks on the vehicle
  • how to complete and retain the checklist
  • what to do in the event that the driver suspects clandestine entrants are present on the vehicle.
• These instructions should be readily accessible to the driver during their journey and can be either in paper or digital format.

3.4 Driver training

Training should be a specific event that enables the drivers to interact with a trainer and provides the opportunity to ask questions. Simply providing a copy of the above instructions to the driver is an inadequate method of training.

• Provide every driver (including temporary drivers) with initial training in how to secure a goods vehicle and how to prevent clandestine entrants in accordance with the Carriers’ Liability (Amendment) Regulations 2023.
• Include a knowledge check to ensure driver understanding of the training.
• Keep a record of the training session which details the attendees’ names, when they were trained, the location, the details covered, knowledge check results.
• Provide refresher training annually. It can be a shorter session than the original training delivered and centre around reminding drivers of their responsibilities.

3.5 Reviewing driver performance

• Collect completed checklists from every driver.
• Review those checklists within 30 days of returning from the journey to identify and address any errors or omissions.

4. Previous clandestine entrant incidents

Having previous incidents of clandestine entrants in a vehicle, does not prevent a company from applying for the Scheme.

Any outstanding penalties must be paid by their required due date before submission of an application to join the Scheme. Failure to pay penalties by their required due date may cause delays to your application. Where there is a live objection or appeal, the payment date is on hold and therefore this falls outside of this requirement.

If membership to the Scheme is granted, any membership discount will only be applied to incidents on or after the date of acceptance into the Scheme.

Where there have been incidents

• Any penalty levied in these cases will stand at the same amount. A membership reduction will not be granted retrospectively.
• Where a decision is yet to be reached on any case, the penalty amount will reflect the membership status at the time of the incident.

We will review the details of cases within the last 5 years and the evidence of the system operated in those cases to assist with our decision whether to grant an application. If there have been improvements to the system operated since those cases, this should be documented in the Application Form.

5. How to apply to join the scheme

Please complete the Application form (Application to join civil penalty accreditation scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)) and submit the requested evidence to the email or postal address detailed on that form. Email is preferred and enables faster processing of an application, however postal applications are also accepted.

6. Application outcome

We will provide written confirmation of the outcome of an application.

Where an application is granted, we will provide a certificate of membership digitally and place the company name on the government website.

Where an application is refused, we will provide reasons why the application was rejected and areas where the system operated could be improved. A period of 3 months must lapse before a further application to join will be considered.

We accept applications submitted by a third party on the applicant’s behalf. We do, however, require permission from the applicant for us to correspond with that third party. This can be granted on this form (Application to join civil penalty accreditation scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)).

7. Membership reviews, suspensions and removal from the scheme

Once membership is granted, this continues unless otherwise notified.

We reserve the right to conduct a review of a member of the Scheme at any time.

Specific events where a review may be conducted:

• Where the company have had 3 or more instances of clandestine entrants detected in their vehicles within a 12-month period.
• Where there is a clandestine entrant incident in a company vehicle and there is evidence to suggest that the company is not meeting the requirements of the Scheme.
• Where any company vehicle is identified as being unsecured on 3 or more instances within a 12-month period.

If we conduct a review, we will write to the member and ask them to resubmit an application form, along with the required records. If we identify that the member has failed to maintain the standards required, we will remove them from the Scheme and explain where the member needs to improve.

All members of the Scheme must pay any penalties they receive by the required payment date.

Failure to do so will result in an immediate suspension of membership for a period of 28 days. The membership discount does not apply during any suspension period.

If payment is still not received after that 28-day period, the member will be removed from the Scheme.

Once a member has been removed from the Scheme, they will no longer benefit from the membership discount to any penalties they receive.

If a company is removed from the Scheme, a period of 3 months must lapse before an application to re-join will be considered.

8. Further support

We can provide advice and support to companies regarding the Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Accreditation Scheme, via a telephone or MS Teams appointment. We do not hold meetings to discuss any issues you may have with the Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Scheme itself, these should be directed towards your local authority, MP, or respective haulage associations.

To request a call over the telephone or via MS Teams, please email BF.CPAS@homeoffice.gov.uk.

Please notify us of any reasonable adjustments you may require.

Further guidance on securing vehicles and recording checks can also be found here. (Preventing clandestine entrants - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk))

Further guidance on the standard checks and security requirements is detailed in The Carriers’ Liability (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (legislation.gov.uk)

Our privacy information notice can be found on GOV.UK.

9. About your application

9.1 When will I get an outcome? Is there an update on my application?

As long as the application is complete, in good working order and contains all the required information, we aim to process applications within 12 weeks. This timeframe may be extended should we need to contact you for more information, or should there be any discrepancies in the documents provided.

9.2 Can I have a meeting with a member of the team?

We can provide support and advice to companies regarding the accreditation scheme via telephone or MS teams. To request an appointment, please email BF.CPAS@homeoffice.gov.uk.

9.3 What documents do I need to submit?

You must submit the following:

1. Completed application form

2. European Operators License (EOL)

3. Evidence of security devices that are issued to drivers

4. Evidence of training provided to drivers

5. Evidence of completed checklists detailing the checks made by drivers.

9.4 My application was refused, when can I re-apply?

A period of 3 months must lapse before a further application to join will be considered to ensure any advice given within the refusal letter can be implemented.

9.5 How should I send my application?

We work on a predominantly digital system; therefore, email is preferred and enables a quicker way to have an application processed, however, postal applications are accepted. Our email address is BF.CPAS@homeoffice.gov.uk, and our postal address is:

Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Team
Border Force South East
Martello House, Second Floor
Shearway Park, Shearway Road
Folkestone
Kent
CT19 4RH
United Kingdom

9.6 I’ve got an ongoing case; can I still apply?

Yes, but any unpaid penalties may lead to your application being refused.

9.7 Do you accept video documents as evidence?

For technological reasons, we cannot accept video documents as evidence.

9.8 Why does my driver have to check inside the vehicle at every stop?

Under legislation, drivers are required to complete the ‘standard checks’ throughout their journey, which includes an internal check. Therefore, spare seals must be provided for drivers to do this where required.

9.9 I can’t change the seal on my vehicle because it’s a customer seal, is this acceptable?

Under legislation, drivers are required to complete the ‘standard checks’ throughout their journey, which includes an internal check. Therefore, this may require breaking a customer seal. Spare seals must be provided for drivers to reseal after doing this.

9.10 Internal checks on the vehicle are required at every stop while on route to the UK, is using CCTV inside the trailer a sufficient check?

No, CCTV can be helpful however can often have blind spots and cannot replace a physical check.

9.11 What should my driver do if they suspect a clandestine entrant has accessed their vehicle on route to the UK?

The driver should not confront or engage the individual/s for safety reasons. Instead, they should:

1. Secure the vehicle by locking the cab and maintaining a safe distance.
2. Contact the local authorities immediately and report the situation, providing location details and vehicle information.
3. Inform their transport operator or company as per internal security protocols.
4. Not continue to the border and wait for instructions from the authorities, avoiding movement of the vehicle until cleared.
5. Document the incident (time, place, actions taken) for compliance and insurance purposes.

9.12 How can my driver join the accreditation scheme?

Drivers cannot join the accreditation scheme independently just yet; however, a driver who is contracted to work for an accredited company and has received adequate training at the time of an incident can benefit from a 50% reduction in their penalty also.