UK vows action after daily record 235 migrants caught trying to enter

A migrant camp in France, from which people are heading to countries such as the UK for work. /Christophe Archambault/AFP

The UK government has vowed to take action after a daily record of 235 migrants were caught trying to cross the channel from France on Thursday.

A heavily pregnant woman and children were among a group of 15 that landed on a Kent beach, while a total of 17 vessels were stopped by the UK authorities.

Including Thursday's total, 3,948 people have crossed the channel in more than 300 boats so far this year.

The UK government is calling now on French officials to do more to force boats back to France.

Rishi Sunak will discuss stronger measures over migration with French counterpart. Andy Buchanan/AFP

The Uk's finance minister, Rishi Sunak, said the country's immigration chief will go to France next week to discuss "stronger measures" that can be used to stop the boats attempting to cross.

"I think people are absolutely right to be frustrated by the scenes they're seeing. I'm frustrated, everyone is, which is why we've been working much more closely with the French government in recent times to improve our cooperation and intelligence-sharing," Sunak told Sky News.

Sunak declined to comment on reports the UK could send Royal Navy ships to patrol the channel – a move suggested previously by British politicians.

Last month, British Home Secretary Priti Patel and French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin agreed to set up a French-British intelligence unit to crack down on what Patel called "gangs behind vile people smuggling."

Migrants trying to enter the UK illegally from the north of France has long been a problem, with people often hiding in lorries or containers on boats.

Since the coronavirus outbreak has led to fewer goods crossing the channel, authorities have said more migrants are now trying to enter in small boats organized by smugglers.

Fine summer weather is also prompting more people to take the risky 20-miles sea crossing.

Bella Sankey, of human rights charity Detention Action, said many migrants had legitimate reasons to go to Britain, such as relatives in the country. She said the British government should offer safe and legal routes for them to come.

"This would end the crossings overnight and ensure we are standing by our age-old tradition of protecting those seeking sanctuary on our shores," she said.

"Trying to make this route 'unviable' through greater enforcement is naive grandstanding and amounts to more of the same."

Source(s): AP