Home Secretary Priti Patel has signalled her plans for a fresh crackdown on illegal immigration into the United Kingdom, after admitting there had been a spike in recent weeks in the number attempting to enter the nation via the English Channel.
Ms Patel working to agree on a scheme with her French counterpart that would allow Britain to return illegal migrants to France after they touch British soil or if they are picked up while at sea.
She also vowed to focus Home Office efforts on combatting ‘vexatious methods’ and ‘vexatious claims’ around illegal immigration and asylum.
Appearing in front of the Home Affairs Select Committee today, Ms Patel was asked by Tory MP Tim Loughton why there had been an apparent ‘spike’ in people trying to cross the Channel, he asked if it was because France had eased off surveillance and patrols because of the coronavirus crisis.
However, the Home Secretary said that was not the case but did say it is a “very, very difficult area” now as she said illegal migrants were also trying to cross to the UK from Belgium, said Said: “We have seen greater dispersal across the French coast and we are seeing this now across the Belgian coast.
“What has happened in France, all credit to the French actually who like we are, despite lockdown and despite all the pressures with coronavirus, are deploying all sorts of activity and resources basically in trying to deter.
“So there is now 24/7 coverage on the beaches of northern France. We are using drones, we are using more detections, we are using ANPR.
“The fact of the matter is, not withstanding these French patrols, these extra patrols on French beaches and using specialist vehicles for detection, too many are getting through.”
When asked if she was attempting to strike a deal with the French Ms Patel responded: “There is a lot of work taking place. We have put forward some measures.
“We are doing this directly through our embassy in Paris as well but I am doing it directly with my counterpart in France around returns and returns at sea which is exactly the point you are making and referring to.
“We are also going to go further than that as well, very much looking at, and this is a UK policy area not just with the Home Office but the Ministry of Justice, but looking at some of the vexatious methods that are being used.
“The vexatious claims around illegal immigration and asylum claims that come forward with many of these illegal migrant activities too.”
[give_form id=”1772″ show_title=”false” show_goal=”false” show_content=”below” display_style=”modal”]
Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
[sibwp_form id=4]
