‘Unparalleled’ drone deal to stem illegal migrant flow

BORDER FORCE officers and drones are to be deployed to the EU’S external borders to help stem the flow of illegal migration under a new deal with Europe’s border agency Frontex.

The new agreement, to be signed today, will see staff from both agencies working together on the EU’S and UK borders to co-ordinate on strategies to prevent illegal migrants slipping into Europe.

The Government has also agreed to work with Frontex and EU countries to develop and expand the use of drones and airborne surveillance.

Border Force officers will be able to get live intelligence mapping migrant movements across EU borders and people smuggling across Europe. UK officials are keen on the deal because it will give domestic agencies eyes over the entirety of the EU’S external borders, not just the frontiers shared with the bloc.

In an exclusive online article for The Telegraph, James Cleverly, the Home Secretary, said it would give the UK access to Frontex’s “unparalleled” information about the EU’S external borders and enable Border Force to draw on its expertise in analysing trends, risks and threats and co-ordinating returns.

“We will collaborate on research and development for new technology, share best practice, and work in lockstep to clamp down on the criminal gangs using Europe as a route for illegal migration,” he said.

Mr Cleverly also stressed that the new deal did not mean that the UK was re-joining an EU institution. He said that the arrangement “doesn’t include any bilateral returns agreement, so – unlike if we were EU members – the UK will not be obliged to take any asylum seekers under burden-sharing arrangements.”

The deal will be signed today in London by Border Force director general Phil Douglas and Frontex executive director Hans Leijtens.