1,900 risk Channel crossings in a year
As 43 more migrants make trip in small boats... AND HERE’S WHAT SAJID JAVID PLEDGED IN JANUARY 2019...
NEARLY 1,900 migrants reached Britain after crossing the Channel in small boats last year – including 43 who made the hazardous journey yesterday.
By contrast, only 125 migrants who used dinghies to illegally reach Britain were deported back to Europe in 2019.
Crossings have continued into the winter months despite Home Secretary Priti Patel having vowed to halve the numbers by November and virtually eliminate the problem by spring.
Border Force vessels intercepted three rigid-hull inflatable boats as they approached the Kent coast yesterday morning.
Twelve Iranian men were picked up at 3.35am and an hour later a second boat containing 22 males was intercepted.
Those in the second boat claimed to be Iraqi, Iranian or Afghan, with eight of them saying they were under the age of 18. If they are children, they will be transferred into the care of social services.
The final boat, which was carrying an Iranian group of seven men and two women was picked up at around 7.50am.
The migrants, who crossed the world’s busiest shipping lane at night in freezing conditions, were assessed by a doctor before being transferred to an immigration centre where they will be interviewed.
French authorities intercepted a fourth boat and took those on board back to mainland Europe where they were detained.
Figures from publicly available sources show that about 1,870 migrants reached Britain or UK waters in small boats last year. About 400 have arrived since October 15 – meaning the Home Secretary has failed to honour her pledge.
One Border Force cutter and two coastal patrol vessels currently patrol the Channel. Specialist vehicles and night vision goggles are being used on French beaches to detect migrants trying to get into small boats.
Last year there were 16 successful prosecutions in France linked to the human trafficking of migrants. Some 30 people were convicted and received sentences ranging from three months to six years. Last winter Sajid Javid, the then Home Secretary, declared a major incident when migrant numbers in the Channel soared. He also pledged a crackdown on migrants who cross it in small boats and the people smugglers who help them.
In January he said: ‘While we have obligations to genuine asylum seekers we will not stand by and allow reckless criminals to take advantage of vulnerable people. I will continue to do all I can to stop these dangerous crossings.’ Mr Javid called in extra Border Force cutters and allocated millions of pounds to tackling the issue. But the problem has worsened throughout 2019.
Yesterday the Home Office said: ‘Illegal migration is a criminal activity. We will always ensure we have the right resources in place to keep our border secure.
‘Individuals who reach the UK illegally should be in no doubt about our determination to return them to Europe as it is an established principle that those in need of protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach.’
‘ We will not stand by... I will continue to do all I can to stop these dangerous crossings ’