Kentish Express Ashford & District
Fears smugglers will exploit gaps in security at Games
French police could be redeployed for Olympics
Potential gaps in French security during the Olympics should not be allowed to be exploited by small boat people smugglers, an MP has warned.
Preparations must be made to address concerns that police in northern France might be redeployed to Paris or other Olympic sites in July and August, says Dover’s Natalie Elphicke.
A refugee aid charity has said fears traffickers will exploit any weakness in cross-Channel border security are “plausible".
Ms Elphicke said: “More than anything, I think it underlines the importance of UK/French co-operation in securing the French beaches against the small boats. If there are any anticipated shortages on the French coast because of the Olympics, then preparations must be made in advance.
“We have seen the redeployment of officers during rioting recently. That’s why we need joint patrols - UK and French authorities together in France to stop the boats, so if there is a sudden shortage or gap, it does not leave the border unprotected.”
High summer is the busiest time for Channel crossings by small boats with calmer sea conditions.
Kent County Council (KCC) is currently preparing up to nine centres which will temporarily house the large number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC).
Under UK law, KCC must take all minors in and house them for up to 10 days before they are dispersed to other parts of Britain via the National Transfer Scheme.
According to reports, France has already reached out to its international allies to assist with security during the games. An official in the French interior ministry said Paris had asked 46 allies to send 2,185 police reinforcements, according to the news outlet France24.
It comes after an attack by Islamic State (IS) on a Moscow concert hall sent threat levels across Europe through the roof, particularly in France.
Operation Sentinelle, a French military force formed nine years ago to protect people from terrorist threats, is in place.
About 20,000 soldiers will be involved in securing the Olympic Games in Paris, alongside 40,000 police and gendarmes.
Refugee aid charity Seeking Sanctuary co-director Ben Bano said: “It’s a plausible scenario the people traffickers would exploit a lack of security. But, to be honest, there are so many different variables at play here, especially when you’re dealing with traffickers. Presumably the French police have got finite resources and will employ them accordingly.”
Seeking Sanctuary claims the number of small boats making dangerous crossings could be eased by offering UK asylum applications by appointment in northern French towns such as Calais and Dunkerque.
Philip Ingram MBE, a former senior military intelligence officer and international security expert, said the world’s focus on France might act as a greater deterrent to the smugglers.
He added: “From a logistical perspective, it might make the work of the organised crime groups behind the smuggling more difficult. One could argue that rather than there being a reduced security presence, that it could increase.
“Security levels in France will be as high as they need to be and there will be a lot of international cooperation, given it is an Olympic Games.
“There will be intelligence coming in from all over the place. The Olympic Games is a valuable target to attack for a terrorist organisation but the French will be doing all it can to disrupt that threat.”