Call for UK treaty with France over migrants

A FAILURE by the UK to reach a new agreement with France on how to deal with migrant crossings could lead to numbers reaching “crisis” levels, an ex-Border Force chief has warned.

It comes after a record number of crossings to Britain in a single day last week, and follows a government minister branding the number of incidents “unacceptably high”.

Tony Smith, the former head of UK

Border Force said the UK and France need to agree a treaty with a joint patrol whereby migrants picked up in the Channel can be returned to France to have asylum claims considered there.

He said: “What I’m advocating is that we need to try as best we can to replicate the juxtaposed controls for legitimate applicants in the same way as for illegitimate applicants.

“If they want to come to the UK they need to make their case on the French side, and if they are found in the waterways or even make it as far as Dover we say ‘I’m sorry but you go back there and that’s where you will be interviewed and processed, on the French side’.”

Last month Home Secretary Priti Patel sought to level blame at her French counterparts, telling the Commons Home Affairs Committee of the “unacceptable” numbers of people making the perilous journey in small boats.

On Saturday Immigration compliance minister Chris Philp called on France to be stronger on intercepting vessels at sea and directing the return of boats which are trying to get to the UK.

At least 202 migrants managed to cross to Britain on Thursday in a surge of 20 boats, a single-day record.