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Channel migrants: Minister defends handling of 'crisis' | Channel migrants: Minister defends handling of 'crisis' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Immigration minister Caroline Nokes has defended the government's handling of the rise in migrants crossing the Channel during a visit to Dover. | Immigration minister Caroline Nokes has defended the government's handling of the rise in migrants crossing the Channel during a visit to Dover. |
More than 220 people have attempted the crossing in small boats since November. | More than 220 people have attempted the crossing in small boats since November. |
Ms Nokes said Home Secretary Sajid Javid would cut short a family holiday to deal with the "major incident". | Ms Nokes said Home Secretary Sajid Javid would cut short a family holiday to deal with the "major incident". |
Dover MP Charlie Elphicke called for more patrol boats and accused the Home Office of letting the "crisis" escalate. | Dover MP Charlie Elphicke called for more patrol boats and accused the Home Office of letting the "crisis" escalate. |
The Conservative MP said the Home Office was not taking the matter "seriously enough". | The Conservative MP said the Home Office was not taking the matter "seriously enough". |
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. |
'Terrible risk' | 'Terrible risk' |
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 said the number of patrol boats was being "constantly reviewed", but it was "feasible that were we to put additional craft they might act as a magnet - encouraging people to make a perilous crossing". | Ms Nokes said the number of patrol boats was being "constantly reviewed", but it was "feasible that were we to put additional craft they might act as a magnet - encouraging people to make a perilous crossing". |
She said the UK was working with France to try to prevent migrants from setting out in the first place, and there was an "enormous" ongoing intelligence-led operation to deter people traffickers. | She said the UK was working with France to try to prevent migrants from setting out in the first place, and there was an "enormous" ongoing intelligence-led operation to deter people traffickers. |
"It is really important to remember that we are dealing with people's lives, people who have taken a terrible, terrible risk, but that we are working with the French to find the most effective route for returns for those who it is appropriate for." | "It is really important to remember that we are dealing with people's lives, people who have taken a terrible, terrible risk, but that we are working with the French to find the most effective route for returns for those who it is appropriate for." |
The National Crime Agency said that tackling the criminals behind these "extremely dangerous" attempted crossings was an "operational priority" and significant resources were devoted to them. | |
Chris Hogben, from the NCA, said its work with French colleagues had resulted in dozens of attempted crossings being prevented. | |
He said that over the last three weeks French colleagues have recovered at least 95 migrants including nine children, and arrested seven people caught attempting to facilitate these crossings. | |
He added that he anticipated further arrests in the coming weeks and thought more attempts to reach the UK were likely. | |
Mr Javid has appointed a "gold commander" to take overall charge of the situation and make strategic decisions about the response. | Mr Javid has appointed a "gold commander" to take overall charge of the situation and make strategic decisions about the response. |
He was due to talk to his French counterpart about the situation over the weekend. | He was due to talk to his French counterpart about the situation over the weekend. |
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. |
'They were desperate to get on to dry land' | 'They were desperate to get on to dry land' |
British fisherman Matt Coaker first saw an overloaded three-man dinghy in September, carrying four adults trying to make it to UK shores. | British fisherman Matt Coaker first saw an overloaded three-man dinghy in September, carrying four adults trying to make it to UK shores. |
"They started waving their oars and tying T-shirts on the oars to get our attention," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "They started waving their oars and tying T-shirts on the oars to get our attention," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
He said the dinghy had a lot of water inside and that the migrants "just looked like they had had enough", adding: "They had been drifting about for some time, they had no engine and just a few oars. | He said the dinghy had a lot of water inside and that the migrants "just looked like they had had enough", adding: "They had been drifting about for some time, they had no engine and just a few oars. |
"They were desperate for a bit of water, a bit of food and possibly just to get on to dry land." | "They were desperate for a bit of water, a bit of food and possibly just to get on to dry land." |
The fisherman pulled his boat alongside them to check how they were, and one of the men made a jump for it. | The fisherman pulled his boat alongside them to check how they were, and one of the men made a jump for it. |
"Luckily the customers I had on-board managed to grab him before he went back in the water, because the last thing you want is someone going down underneath the propeller," said Mr Coaker. | "Luckily the customers I had on-board managed to grab him before he went back in the water, because the last thing you want is someone going down underneath the propeller," said Mr Coaker. |
"They got him over the side and, as they did, the others made a jump and we had all four on-board within minutes." | "They got him over the side and, as they did, the others made a jump and we had all four on-board within minutes." |
He has seen a number of dinghies since, including one at night carrying two families with an 18-month-old girl in tow. And while he said it wasn't the norm, it now "doesn't surprise you if you go out and see a rescue taking place". | He has seen a number of dinghies since, including one at night carrying two families with an 18-month-old girl in tow. And while he said it wasn't the norm, it now "doesn't surprise you if you go out and see a rescue taking place". |
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: |