Home Secretary Priti Patel has called for the removal of social media post that glamourises dangerous illegal crossings from mainland Europe to the United Kingdom.
In a letter to social media companies, Ms Patel said videos promoting “lethal crossings” were “unacceptable”, her letter comes as several hundred suspected illegal migrants have attempted to cross the Channel in the past week.
Reports that a Border Force ship entered French waters and picked up migrants from a UK-bound dinghy are being investigated by the Home Office.
Ms Patel said: “Posts which promote and even glamorise these lethal crossings are totally unacceptable. They encourage others to leave a safe European country and put theirs and their family’s life at risk and are even used by people smugglers to promote their deadly business,
“What these posts don’t mention are the people who have died trying to make this crossing, or those forced to spend 13 hours in unseaworthy boats in freezing waters.”
She added that social media companies have “made progress” in removing the posts but “must quickly and proactively… before more men, women and children die in the Channel”.
The Home Office said it was “cracking down on the despicable criminal gangs behind people smuggling” with more than 4,000 people had been prevented from making the crossing so far this year.
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.
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