App: Border Freight Intelligence

In short

BF Intelligence (Border Freight Intelligence) is a software application for freight and haulage drivers, owners and transport managers who use the port of Calais.

Jeffrey Scott came up with the idea at a 2014 Innovate UK event where the government asked industry for help in the ‘detection of clandestines’.

Border Force needed a fast way to detect people hidden in vehicles without slowing traffic, as vehicles are most vulnerable when stopped or moving slowly.

The idea came from a border officer’s remark that drivers sometimes tell officers when they know migrants are on board a vehicle nearby.

The developers say the system is flexible enough to serve ‘Global Border Protection’, regardless of country or vehicle.

BF Intelligence at a glance

Full name

Border Freight Intelligence

Idea by

Jeffrey Scott

Origin

2014 Innovate UK event

Target users

Freight and haulage drivers, owners, transport managers

Location

Port of Calais

Main function

Reporting vehicle entry or attempts by migrants

Summary added in 2026 to make this archive easier to use. The original article follows unchanged.

The migrant problem in Calais is out of control. We can’t solve the entire problem; but together we can make a big difference. Drivers have got to look out for one another.

The Problem
Jeffrey Scott had the idea for BF Intelligence whilst he attended a 2014 Innovate UK hosted event where the government challenged the industry to help them in the ‘detection of clandestines’. From the brief and the Q&A with the Border Force it was clear that they have a huge problem and are in need of an effective and fast method to detect illegal immigrants hidden inside vehicles in Calais; without slowing the flow of vehicles as they travel through the port (as the vehicles are most vulnerable to attack when they are stopped or travelling very slow).

The Idea
Hehad attended the meeting with the view of installing electronic equipment (such as CCTV) to vehicles, but two points that were raised changed my way of thinking. Firsthe heard a border officer say that sometimes the simplest things are the best and 2nd he said that drivers will sometimes tell them if they know that migrants are on board a vehicle in the queue nearby to them. He instantly came up with the idea for a standalone ‘Border Freight Intelligence’ software application (which would become ‘BF Intelligence’) and the development team have spent most of 2014 developing the idea and building this revolutionary platform that will put control back into the hands of drivers and freight transport operators.

Who is it for?
BF Intelligence’s target users are freight and haulage drivers, owners and transport managers; where the business uses the port of Calais. The system however has been designed and built to be very flexible and an effective solution for ‘Global Border Protection’, regardless of the country or vehicle being driven/ towed.

Source: BF Intelligence

Questions about this article

What is BF Intelligence?

A software application that lets freight drivers report migrants trying to enter or hiding in vehicles at Calais, so drivers can look out for one another. Screenshots show reports with a location, distance and number of migrants.

How did the idea for BF Intelligence come about?

Jeffrey Scott attended a 2014 Innovate UK event about detecting clandestines. A border officer said the simplest things are often best and that drivers sometimes tell officers about migrants on nearby vehicles, which led to the idea of a standalone app.

Who is the app for?

Freight and haulage drivers, owners and transport managers whose business uses the port of Calais, although the developers say it can work for border protection anywhere.

Questions and answers added in 2026, based on the article above.