• More than 430 migrants attempted to cross the Channel on Monday.

    A record.

  • Faced with the increase in illegal crossings attempts, France and the United Kingdom are stepping up measures against illegal immigration.

  • A law is also being considered by the British parliament to reform the asylum system.

Last days before the end of the British “Eldorado”? More and more migrants try almost daily to cross the Channel to reach the English coasts aboard makeshift boats. Last chance crossings, the British parliament is due to adopt a bill this week providing for the hardening of the asylum system. In the meantime, France and Britain have stepped up measures to tackle illegal immigration with the help of millions of pounds, men and technology.

British sources said more than 430 migrants attempted to cross the Channel on Monday.

A new record, the last being set at 416 last September.

According to the French Interior Ministry, more than 7,500 people have been intercepted during attempted crossings since last year.

The British media BBC assures for its part that 8,000 migrants managed to reach the English coast in 2021.

Reducing “the UK's appeal as an asylum destination”

These figures irritate the two governments, especially since the resources deployed are already very important. An inability to seal the border which they half-heartedly acknowledge: “Despite these joint efforts, the United Kingdom and France agree that additional and urgent measures are needed, with the number of crossings and attempted crossings continuing to decline. 'increase'.

Concretely, most of the work will be done on the French side. It is planned to "double the number of police and gendarmes" to allow surveillance of the coasts from Dieppe to Dunkirk. Material resources will also be greatly enhanced, particularly with regard to aerial surveillance and infrastructure surveillance. We also speak, without going into detail, of “smart border” to detect upstream attempts to cross the Channel using “high-tech devices”. To finance these measures, at least in part, the British government will release a budget of nearly 63 million euros over the next two years.

The most effective means could be elsewhere, believe the French and English interior ministers.

By "reducing the attractiveness of the UK as an asylum destination", the reform of the system aims to deter migrants from coming.

Britain's “new immigration plan” also plans to “strengthen sanctions against illegal immigration and those who encourage it”.

World

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Miscellaneous

Saint-Malo: After the rescue of 27 migrants, the driver of the boat in custody

  • Britain

  • Society

  • Migrants

  • Illegal immigration