Patrols on French beaches fail to stem flow of migrants

THE Home Office has insisted that patrols on French beaches for migrants attempting to cross the Channel have doubled, despite 229 people reaching the UK in December alone.

Yesterday, 49 people in four boats were picked up by Border Force ships in UK waters, bringing the number of migrants to reach the UK this year in small boats to more than 1,800.

December has been a particularly busy month, with 79 people picked up on Dec 4 and 69 taken in on Dec 17.

But in total, only 120 migrants have been returned to Europe this year.

Brandon Lewis, the security minister, said: “Law enforcement agencies in the UK and France are working around the clock. A 42m Border Force cutter and two coastal vessels are patrolling the Channel and yesterday French authorities intercepted two boats, returning them straight to France.

“Those who reached the UK on Boxing Day should be in no doubt about our determination to return them to Europe – we will do everything in our power to remove them from the UK.”

Last night, the Home Office said: “In partnership with France, we target the criminals behind this form of people smuggling, to pre-empt crossings and stop boats from leaving French shores.

“There has been a doubling of patrols on French beaches and drones, specialist vehicles and detection equipment have been deployed to deter these illegal crossings.”

Last night, one migrant told The

Daily Telegraph: “This will continue. There is no end in sight.”