Channel crossings: London launches deterrence campaign in Vietnam

Europe 1 with AFP 1:17 p.m., March 25, 2024

The British government announced on Monday the launch of a dissuasive campaign on social networks in Vietnam, in the face of the growing number of nationals of this country who are trying to illegally cross the Channel on small boats. All nationalities combined, 4,244 of these perilous crossings across one of the busiest straits in the world have been recorded since the start of the year, an increase of 15% compared to the same period last year.

A campaign that has already proven its worth

“I regret having risked my life,” testifies a migrant, whose identity is protected, in one of the clips which will be broadcast by the Ministry of the Interior on Facebook and YouTube. The government hopes to dissuade candidates from making these crossings, by relaying stories of the dire conditions on board the overloaded boats. According to the Home Office, more and more Vietnamese nationals are trying to cross, to the point of appearing among the 10 most represented nationalities.

“Last year, similar work contributed to a 90% reduction in arrivals” of Albanian nationals, said Interior Minister James Cleverly. “Expanding our campaign to Vietnam, another partner in our fight against illegal immigration, will help us save more lives and undermine the business model of criminals who profit from this vile trade,” he added.

The fight against illegal immigration, a priority for the British government

The campaign also includes testimonies from British immigration and border police officers who speak of cases of modern slavery and the extremely precarious living conditions to which irregular migrants are subjected. A meeting between British and Vietnamese officials to discuss strengthening cooperation between the two countries is to be held in London on April 17, according to the Interior Ministry.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made the fight against illegal immigration one of his priorities, but the highly controversial bill to deport migrants to Rwanda faces resistance from the upper house of Parliament , that of the Lords, who wishes to soften the text.