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Channel migrants: Dover visit for minister amid 'crisis' | Channel migrants: Dover visit for minister amid 'crisis' |
(35 minutes later) | |
Immigration minister Caroline Nokes is to visit Dover amid growing criticism of the government's handling of the surge in migrants crossing the Channel. | |
Home Secretary Sajid Javid has declared a "major incident" after more than 220 people tried the crossing in small boats since the start of November. | |
Dover MP Charlie Elphicke has called for more patrol boats in the Channel. | Dover MP Charlie Elphicke has called for more patrol boats in the Channel. |
He said the Home Office "has not been taking this seriously enough and the crisis has continued to escalate". | He said the Home Office "has not been taking this seriously enough and the crisis has continued to escalate". |
It comes after another 12 people were detained off the coast of Dover in the early hours of Friday morning. | It comes after another 12 people were detained off the coast of Dover in the early hours of Friday morning. |
Mr Javid has been appointed "gold commander" to take control of the response and will now receive daily updates from the Home Office. | |
He will talk to his French counterpart about the situation over the weekend. | He will talk to his French counterpart about the situation over the weekend. |
Mr Javid has also asked the Border Force to consider whether employing more vessels would act as a deterrent or encourage more people to make the crossing. | Mr Javid has also asked the Border Force to consider whether employing more vessels would act as a deterrent or encourage more people to make the crossing. |
Only one of the Border Force's fleet of five cutters - specialist boats which the force describes as being capable of rescuing several migrant boats at the same time - is currently operational in the Dover Strait. | Only one of the Border Force's fleet of five cutters - specialist boats which the force describes as being capable of rescuing several migrant boats at the same time - is currently operational in the Dover Strait. |
Ms Nokes and Mr Elphicke are to discuss the situation with Border Force officers in Dover. | Ms Nokes and Mr Elphicke are to discuss the situation with Border Force officers in Dover. |
Mr Elphicke said "we need a clear strategy to defeat the traffickers", adding that the French authorities should step up action on their side of the Channel. | Mr Elphicke said "we need a clear strategy to defeat the traffickers", adding that the French authorities should step up action on their side of the Channel. |
Officials on both sides of the Channel have warned of the dangers of crossing what is the world's busiest shipping lane in a small boat. | Officials on both sides of the Channel have warned of the dangers of crossing what is the world's busiest shipping lane in a small boat. |
Police have likened the journey to trying to "cross the M25 at rush-hour on foot". | Police have likened the journey to trying to "cross the M25 at rush-hour on foot". |
Many of the migrants are Iranian or Syrian. | Many of the migrants are Iranian or Syrian. |
A BBC South East investigation last month found that people smugglers were telling migrants they must enter before "the borders shut properly" after Brexit. | A BBC South East investigation last month found that people smugglers were telling migrants they must enter before "the borders shut properly" after Brexit. |
British and French authorities have both said the rise in crossings is the result of "organised criminality" and "mafia networks". | British and French authorities have both said the rise in crossings is the result of "organised criminality" and "mafia networks". |
Responding to the suggestion that bringing rescued migrants to the UK could encourage people to attempt the journey, Steve Valdez-Symonds, from Amnesty International, said that was "nonsense". | Responding to the suggestion that bringing rescued migrants to the UK could encourage people to attempt the journey, Steve Valdez-Symonds, from Amnesty International, said that was "nonsense". |
"If people are in danger of their lives then they need to be saved," he told the BBC. | "If people are in danger of their lives then they need to be saved," he told the BBC. |
The people found off the Kent coast since November: | The people found off the Kent coast since November: |