Military veteran aids Eurotunnel's defence strategy

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He has commanded British forces in Bosnia, Northern Ireland and the Falklands, seen action in Borneo and advised the Colombian government on how to fight cocaine barons, but General Sir Roger Wheeler's latest challenge has tested even his skill as a strategist: keeping asylum-seekers out of the Channel Tunnel.

Eurotunnel announced yesterday that Sir Roger – who commanded the British land forces until he retired last year – has already started the job, having been studying its huge terminal at Coquelles, near Calais, since July. He has now come up with a strategy to stymie the hundreds of refugees who try to breach the 22-mile perimeter fence every night in the effort to reach Britain.

For every asylum-seeker caught on the English side of the operation, Eurotunnel is fined £2,000 by the Government – a penalty that, with extra security patrols, has cost the company more than £3m since January.

Sir Roger's appointment, which is ongoing, reflects not only the seriousness with which Eurotunnel views the problem but also its anger at the lack of support it has received from the Government. "We find we are fighting a battle that is not ours, so we felt we had to get someone with a military mind," Anne Leva, a spokeswoman, said. "We have been frustrated by the lack of action from the Government.

"This appointment is not designed to embarrass ministers, but simply to keep our services running. Fortunately, Sir Roger's recommendations are largely in line with our own thinking and they are proving very successful."

The general advised Eurotunnel against trying to police the outer perimeter and concentrate on an inner cordon around platforms and tracks.

"They asked me to validate their security arrangements and I have produced a report for them," he said yesterday. "I have recommended some extension of the inner perimeter fence, I have recommended some variations on the way they deploy their manpower and I have recommended some changes in the way they, in their terms, manage the situation and, in my terms, command and control it.

"I don't necessarily think it needs a military mind to do this but I think that the military are used to people trying to break into perimeters, so it is about the way we think and make an appreciation of the ground.

"I'm sure a police force could do the job, I'm sure a security firm could do it but they chose to ask me ...Eurotunnel are determined to counter the threat to the terminal, if for no other reason than to prevent people from being killed running around a railway yard."

Sir Roger, 59, who has four children, spent more than 30 years in the Army. Among other positions, he was commanding officer in Northern Ireland from 1993-96, Chief of the General Staff from 1993 until his retirement and honorary Colonel of the Royal Irish Regiment. He was knighted in 1993.

Besides Sir Roger's recommendations, Eurotunnel has hired 300 security guards and is using carbon dioxide detectors, dogs and a millimetric wave machine, which can see through soft-sided lorries to stop the refugees.