For the same passenger, Border Force can penalise more than one party. Liability can extend to the owner of the vehicle, its hirer and the driver.
Joint and several liability
The operator (company) is often jointly and severally liable for the penalty imposed on the driver - which means Border Force can pursue the full amount from the company. That is why the combined penalty exposure for a single person can reach £20,000.
For transport companies
It is worth setting out in advance, in contracts and procedures, who covers the penalties and how security checks are documented - this genuinely affects the amount and the allocation of liability.