A new portable device that can detect migrants in the back of trucks is now on sale through the Freight Transport Association website.

The detector picks up CO2 emissions within a 40ft range and can send text or email alerts to the driver or transport manager and the manufacturer’s monitoring service using a roaming SIM. Settings can be adjusted according to the cargo, so fruit and vegetables that themselves emit CO2 do not cause false alarms.

The £299 device (only £199 to FTA members) also has worldwide tracking and is integrated with Google Street Maps.

James Hookham, deputy chief executive of the FTA, said: “Anything that makes it safer for drivers to do their job is to be welcomed. This sensor removes the need for them to check their own trucks – something that puts them in serious danger in Calais where there are thousands of migrants milling around.
“FTA has a checklist on its website to advise drivers what action to take when using the French port. We recommend always going through the checks and sensors, even if it takes a bit longer, to avoid hefty fines if migrants are found on board.”
The detector is fully portable and can be moved from vehicle to vehicle. It has a battery life of between two and four months and requires an £11.99 monthly subscription.