Why do migrants risk their lives to get to Britain instead of staying in Europe?

SIR – James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, has repeatedly blamed the “evil traffickers” for illegal Channel crossings (Letters, March 12), and all efforts and resources seem to be aimed at shutting them down.

The traffickers are not the cause of this problem – they are the effect. In terms of supply and demand, the “services” they supply have arisen from the enormous demand from people to get into Britain.

If we want to control that demand, the question we should be asking is: what is it about this country that makes it so uniquely attractive to migrants that they are prepared to risk their lives travelling from perfectly safe countries in Europe to get here?

Until we address that question, any plans to stop the small boats crossing the Channel are likely to be futile.

Ian Jefferson

London W6

SIR – Housing people seeking asylum in hotels is a waste of taxpayers’ money (report, March 10), but it also causes significant and unnecessary suffering.

We know from our work supporting men, women and children who have been living in hotels how unsuitable these places are for people to spend several weeks in, let alone more than a year. People are forced to live in one room, with no kitchen facilities, while receiving only £6 a day.

People who have been forced to flee their homes need stability, security and to feel safe. Being housed in a hotel is not only costly but also has a devastating impact on people’s mental and physical health.

Over 160,000 people are waiting for a decision on their asylum case, with tens of thousands in hotels due to slow decision-making and inefficiencies. Urgent steps are needed to address the backlog and get vulnerable people out of hotels and into safe accommodation where they can live in dignity. Christina Marriott Executive Director, British Red Cross London EC2

SIR – I was looking forward to a holiday in May with 40 members of a walking group. We were booked at a hotel which the Home Office has since closed in order to house migrants.

Our holiday has been cancelled and we are very disappointed. The area would have benefited economically from our visit. How many more people are being seriously inconvenienced by having holidays ruined?

Barbara Reed

Maidstone, Kent