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British court orders halt to fining over illegal immigrants

Britain's efforts to fight illegal immigration have been dealt a blow with the Court of Appeal ruling that the government should freeze a policy of fining lorry drivers who carry immigrants into the country.

Heavy transport operators hailed the decision as a victory.

They've argued it's unfair to hold drivers responsible for people stowing away in lorries.

The legal action was brought by 50 lorry drivers and haulage companies after the government introduced fines of about five thousand dollars per illegal immigrant.

The court ordered a temporary halt to the policy after deciding it was in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights, and has sent the case to the House of Lords, Britain's supreme court, for a final ruling.

23/02/2002 00:02:51 | ABC Radio Australia News

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