The British government has recalled two ships for patrolling the English Channel from the Mediterranean. The British Interior Minister Sajid Javid said after an emergency meeting. One of the two ships is currently in humanitarian mission for the European border agency Frontex in use.
Reason for the step is the increasing number of refugees, trying to get from France to the UK with small boats. "It's about protecting lives, but also protecting our borders," said Javid.
In 2018, according to the British Home Office, 539 people have attempted to cross the strait in small boats, 434 of them alone since the beginning of October. 227 migrants were still stopped by the French authorities.
Javid had already classified the situation on Friday as a "serious event" and canceled his family vacation. The Minister of the Interior is increasingly under pressure because of the topic.
London wants to continue its commitment to the Frontex humanitarian mission in the Mediterranean, a Ministry of Interior statement said. Another ship is therefore in the Mediterranean.
The use of ships in the English Channel is controversial. Critics say that the increased presence of British ships may encourage some migrants to cross the river, hoping to be rescued and brought to Britain. The key to the problem lay in cooperating with the French authorities and preventing migrants from traveling, as well as combating criminal organizations, Javid said.
Many of the migrants claim to be from Iran. According to a BBC report, smugglers are putting pressure on them to undertake the dangerous crossing this winter because of the upcoming EU exit. After that, according to the threat, the controls would be further tightened. The English Channel is one of the busiest sea routes in the world. But also the relatively mild weather is considered a reason for the accumulation of cases.
Labor domestic expert Diane Abbott accused the government of exploiting the situation for the upcoming parliamentary vote in mid-January on the Brexit agreement negotiated with Brussels. "People are being incited to immigration issues because the government thinks it's the best way to get people to vote for their deal," Abbott told The Guardian.