Channel: London concerned about the influx of migrant boats from France

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Almost 4,000 people have crossed the Channel this year, aboard more than 300 small boats. The British government denounces an "unacceptable" number of migrants thus arriving in the United Kingdom, saying they want to work with France to make this road impassable.

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“  The number of crossings of illegal small craft [to the UK] is appalling and unacceptably high,  ” UK Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted. This Thursday, at least 235 migrants were intercepted between France and England, setting a new daily record, just a week after the previous one - 202 people on July 30. Since the start of the year, nearly 4,000 people have made the crossing.

"  These figures are shameful ," the minister reacted on Twitter. France and the other EU member states are safe countries. Genuine refugees should seek asylum there, not risk their lives and break the law by coming to the UK. I am working to make this road impassable.  "

THREAD:

The number of illegal small boat crossings is appalling and unacceptably high. The figures are shameful.

France and other EU states are safe countries. Genuine refugees should claim asylum there, not risk their lives and break the law by coming to the UK. pic.twitter.com/qy2ykYicvl

Military intervention envisaged

According to several British media, the British government plans to bring in the army to manage the influx of migrants. Asked about this on Friday on the Sky News television channel, Finance Minister Rishi Sunak remained unclear. “  I wouldn't want to speculate on the exact measures that will be put in place,  ” he said.

The Secretary of State for Immigration, Chris Philp, will visit France next week to discuss the issue. London, writes the latter in a column published this Friday in The Telegraph, expects the French government to prevent migrants from taking to sea .

Britain must also “  intercept  ” migrants leaving France and “return” those arriving on British shores, adds Chris Philp. He insisted: “  The French must ensure that migrants caught trying to reach the United Kingdom by boat cannot reoffend.  ". 

An official inquiry was launched this week by the parliamentary committee in charge of the interior, in order to "  examine the reasons behind the increase in the number of migrant crossings, as well as the responses provided by the British and French authorities  ".

"  Naive demagoguery  "

"  The Ministry of the Interior has lost control and all credibility on this issue, fueling chaos, crime and indescribable trauma for those who feel obliged to make these dangerous passages  ", for its part denounced the NGO "  Detention Action  ”from the UK agency PA.

“  Trying to make this road 'impracticable' through stricter law enforcement is naïve demagoguery and will come back more or less to the same thing,  ” added its director Bella Sankey. For their part, humanitarian organizations are pleading for family reunification to be applied in a less restrictive way because some of the migrants who want to leave France already have family in the United Kingdom.

(With agencies)

► To read also: Migrants: Paris and London together against smugglers

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• International Migration
• United Kingdom
• France

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