Chris Philp, in charge of immigration within the British government, on Friday (August 7th) expressed Britain's concern at the "unacceptable" increase in the number of small boats crossing the Channel from France. In a column published by the newspaper The Telegraph, he also explains that his country will act to return "illegal" migrants.

Chris Philp writes that he will be traveling to Paris next week to discuss the issue and that London expects France to prevent migrants from taking to sea.

Britain must also "intercept" migrants leaving France and "return" those who arrive on British coasts, he adds. "The French must ensure that migrants caught trying to reach the UK by boat cannot reoffend," said the member of the British government.

"The French authorities are fully mobilized"

For its part, The Times newspaper reported that members of the British government calling for stricter measures from Paris are considering blocking the migrant boats before they reach British waters.

According to the BBC, nearly 4,000 people have crossed the Channel this year, aboard more than 300 small boats.

Asked by Reuters, the French Interior Ministry said it saw an upsurge in attempted crossings due in particular to "favorable weather conditions". "The French authorities are fully mobilized to prevent these departures," he wrote in an email.

"Three sheltering operations have been carried out over the past three weeks, involving more than a thousand migrants. (...) Rescue operations at sea are also carried out daily to rescue the men, women and children who attempt this crossing at the risk of their lives, "he adds.

Reacting to requests for amplification of measures formulated by London, the Home Office declares that "from January to July 2020, the crossings prevented and the arrests of migrants were multiplied by more than 5, compared to the same period in 2019 ".

With Reuters

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