Tactic people smugglers use to get young male migrants past French cops onto dinghies to UK revealed
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PEOPLE smugglers are using women and children as human shields in a diversion tactic to get past French police - before mostly men make it onto a dinghy.
Families with young babies and kids were put at the front of the queue of migrants entering the vast beach from the sand dunes in Gravelines, near Calais, yesterday with young men trailing behind.
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People-smugglers are using women and children as a diversion tactic to get young male migrants past French police
Credit: Getty
The diversionary tactics meant the 40 police officers, armed and waiting with pepper spray and tear gas, remained calm and did not use force against the group straight away to avoid injuring the children.
Instead, officers kettled the group and successfully marched them off back into the sand dunes.
But, when the time was right and the police thought they had taken the group off the beach, a group of mostly men suddenly sprinted off into the sand dunes before making a break for it back onto the beach.
Most of the migrants with children did not return to the beach.
It comes after senior Labour minister Darren Jones was slammed after suggesting on BBC's Question Time that the majority of migrants entering by small boats that he had seen were women and children.
A dramatic cat and mouse game followed yesterday with tear gas being fired over Gravelines beach in an attempt to keep migrants away from the sea.
But they failed to stop a nearby dinghy from picking up the migrants and it left for British shores with mostly men on board.
It comes after official figures showed that more than 919 people crossed the Channel in small boats on Friday on 14 dinghies - averaging around 66 people per boat.
It has taken the provisional annual total to 16,183, which is 42 per cent higher than the same point last year and 79 per cent up on the same date in 2023.
The highest daily number so far this year was 1,195 on May 31.
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Conwy Conwy Council has drawn up a list of priority roads that will be assessed. A final decision has yet to be made on the following roads. 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Pant Industrial Estate Pant Road to Pontsticill A4054 - Cardiff Road Treharris/Quakers Yard Aberfan to Troedyrhiw A4054 - Plymouth Street A4054 – Old Hoovers factory to petrol station A4054 - Caedraw roundabout to road bridge College Boulevard - Merthyr College/gyratory to Vauxhall garage A4054 - Caedraw roundabout to Vauxhall Garage roundabout Bethesda Street Brecon road - St Marys Church to Cyfarthfa Arms Cyfarthfa road - Pandy Clock to Mormon Church Top of Galon Uchaf roundabout to 10th Avenue Penydarren roundabout to Pontmorlais Top section of Swansea Road Aberdare Road Winchfawr A4054 - Upper Cefn High Street A4054 – Full length of Cefn High Street Whole of A4054 to revert back except outside schools Monmouthshire Monmouthshire Council has decided it is not reverting any roads from the current 20mph speed limit. Neath Port Talbot Council The council has said it has received 93 comments about streets or roads following a consultation after the revised Welsh Government guidance. 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Caerphilly Road (part – extend existing 30mph from the property 'Brambles' up to Garth Terrace) Bassaleg Road (part – Pye Corner up to 130 Bassaleg Road) Bettws Lane (part – from Malpas Road to Newport High School) Duffryn Drive Duffryn Way Frederick Street George Street Lighthouse Road (part - between Morgan Way to a point prior to controlled crossing near Duffryn Way) Morgan Way Royal Oak Hill (part – extend existing 30mph to junction with Chepstow Road) Tredegar House Drive Tregwilym Road (part – Western Valley Road to Chartist Drive) Usk Road (part – extend existing 30mph to junction with The Hawthorns) Wern Industrial Estate West Nash Road (part – from junction with Nash Road to point near St Mary's Close) Wharf Road Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire Council has asked for the public's views on any changes that should be made in its area. Powys It has been reported that the council has been consulting on possible changes and that the results of this will be presented in due course to cabinet. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council The council has been looking into 313 requests to change roads back from their current 20mph limit. But no decisions have so far been taken on any changes. Swansea There are 17 roads in Swansea that could potentially see their limits increased from 20mph to 30mph. A48 – From Penllergaer to Pontlliw -From a point 60 metres south of Parc Penderi in Penllergaer to a point 60 metres south of Oaklands Road in Pontlliw. B4295 – The Promenade, Penclawdd -From the current 30mph limit at a point 45 metres southwest of its junction with Graig-y-Coed west to its junction with Hall Lane. B4296 – Pentre Road (Pontardulais) -From the current 30mph limit at a point 360 metres south of its junction with Park Terrace to a point 130 metres south of this junction. B4296 – Pentre Road (Grovesend) -From the existing 30mph limit at a point 50 metres north of its junction with Clos Brynlliw, Grovesend south to a point 10 metres north of Clos Pengelli. B4296 Coalbrook Road (Grovesend) -From the existing 30mph limit 420 metres north of its junction with Frampton Road northwards for a distance of 100 metres. B4436 Mayals Road -From its junction with Mumbles Road west to the 40mph limit at a point 100 metres west of its junction with Curlew Close. B4620 Swansea Road/ Carmarthen Road (Llewitha) -From the existing 40mph limit on Swansea Road 570 metres east of its junction with Hospital Road east to a point on Carmarthen Road 250 metres west of its junction with Ystrad Road. B4603 Clydach Road -From a point 30 metres north of its junction with Field Close north to a point 50 metres south of its junction with Lanllienwen Road. From its junction with the northern kerbline of the junction 45 roundabout of the M4 north to a point 30 metres south of its junction with Christopher Road. From a point 20 metres southwest of its junction with Quarr Drive southwest for a distance of 690 metres. Carmel Road - From a point 40 metres east of Colwyn Avenue to a point 50 metres west of Crymlyn Road. Brynmill Lane - From its junction with Sketty Road southeast to its junction with Park Place. Gors Avenue -From a point 10 metres west of its junction with Townhill Road to its junction with Carmarthen Road. Townhill Road -From its junction with Gors Avenue to a point 10 metres west of its junction with Mayhill Road. Heol Ddu -From a point 20 metres west of its junction with Llangyfelach Road west to the existing 40mph limit 20 metres southwest of its junction with Roger Street. Heol y Cwmdu -From its junction with Carmarthen Road to a point 10 metres west of the access road to Parc Cwmdu. Mynydd Newydd Road -From the existing 40mph limit 50 metres south of its junction with Penplas Road to a point 20 metres north of its junction with Broughton Avenue. Pant Lasau Road - From the existing 40mph speed limit 113 metres southwest of the southern boundarybof the property known as Brynsirol northeast to a point 60 metres southwest of its junction with Heol Maes Eglwys. Pentregethin Road -From its junction with Pontarddulais Road east then southeast to a point 10 metres southeast of Woodford Road. Torfaen Consultations have taken place regarding the following roads to be revised, this is set to be completed by the end of spring, 2025. Newport Road, Cwmbran (part) Estate Road, Blaenavon (including Gilchrist Thomas Industrial Estate) The A4043 north from Pontypool towards Abersychan (part) New Road, between Griffithstown and New Inn (part) Usk Road, New Inn (part) Riverside, Pontypool Turnpike Road, Llanyravon (part) B4236 Caerleon Road (part) - 40mph section Vale of Glamorgan The speed limit on 83 roads could change in the Vale of Glamorgan but a list of which roads are being considered has not been shared. Wrexham These are the roads set for reversion to 30mph: B5445 Marford Hill, Marford B5445 Chester Road, Gresford A5152 Chester Road, Acton (A483 – Garden Village) A5152 Chester Road, Acton (Garden Village – City) Ty Gwyn Lane, Acton B5100 Rhosnesni Lane, Acton Jeffreys Road, Borras A534 Holt Road, Wrexham (Hullah Lane to Greyhound) A534 Holt Road, Borras (Greyhound to Link Road) A525 Ruthin Road, Wrexham A541 Mold Road, Gwersyllt A525 Kingsmills Road, Hightown Kingsmills Loop (Old A525) Abenbury Road, Abenbury Cefn Road, Abenbury A525 Marchwiel Road/Bangor Road, Marchwiel A528 Overton Road, Marchwiel A525 Bangor Road, Cross Lanes B5130 Holt Road/Kiln Lane, Cross Lanes B5425 New Road/ Main Road/ Llay New Road, Rhosrobin Plas Acton Road, Pandy B5425 Llay New Road, Llay B5102 Straight Mile/ Croeshowell Hill, Llay Gegin Lane, Llay Higher Lane, Llay Chapel Lane, Llay Phoenix Drive, Brymbo New High Street, Brymbo Railway Road, Brymbo B5101, The Lodge B5426 Wern Road, Minera B5426 Minera Hall Road, Minera B5426, The Wern B5605 Park Road/Newbridge Road, Rhosymedre A539 Llangollen Road, Trevor A539 Llangollen Road, Acrefair B5070, Chirk B5070, Chirk (buffer) B5605 Wrexham Road, Johnstown B5605 Ruabon Road, Johnstown Vauxhall Industrial Estate, Johnstown B5605 Ruabon Road, Ruabon B5605 New High Street, Ruabon B5605 Bridge Street, Ruabon A539/B5605 Ruabon Roundabout B5097 Plas Bennion to Tatham Road Plas Bennion Road/ Copperas Hill
ITV News
an hour ago
- ITV News
Banged up abroad: Mapping an 'explosion' of Brits being arrested over alleged drug smuggling
The number of British citizens detained abroad over alleged drug smuggling has surged over the past few months, with one charity sounding the alarm over growing numbers of women affected. Bella May Culley, Cameron Bradford and Charlotte May Lee have all made headlines for being locked up overseas. All are young women, all were arrested over alleged narcotics smuggling, and all recently travelled to Thailand. It's a pattern which has come to the attention of Prisoners Abroad - a charity assisting Britons who are arrested and detained overseas. The charity said almost half of its new cases over the past year have involved arrests for drugs offences. Young Brits and British women make up the majority of these, involved in 62% and 65% respectively in 2024. But just how many people from the UK are behind bars abroad for similar reasons - and what could happen to them? What the data shows Hundreds of British citizens are currently detained across the world, accused of narcotics smuggling offences. Prisoners Abroad has told ITV News it is currently supporting 431 people around the globe who are facing drugs charges. This includes 170 people in Europe, 72 behind bars in Asia, and 71 in jails in the Middle East. According to Prisoners Abroad, the country with the most locked-up British citizens is the United Arab Emirates, where the charity is supporting some 51 inmates facing drugs charges. There are fears social media platforms are being used to recruit young people into smuggling. The UAE is followed by Spain and Australia, with 34 and 31 Brits behind bars respectively. In Thailand, there are 22 who have been detained over drugs charges, according to Prisoners Abroad's figures shared with ITV News. Cases of British people being arrested and imprisoned abroad peaked in the year 2014 to 2015, Prisoners Abroad have said, with cases declining in subsequent years. Instances hit a low during the pandemic, but the charity has reported a steady increase since, with total numbers of new cases of British people being detained over drugs charges increasing year-on-year since 2020. Last year, this figure reached 243 new cases - up from 61 in the year 2020-2021. "While the influx of recent high-profile cases can make this seem like a newly emerging issue, it's actually a pattern that's been materialising for several years," the charity told ITV News. "If numbers continue as they are, it looks likely that we will see the highest number of drugs arrests for the first time since 2014-15, and the highest number of total new arrests since 2015-16." A timeline of arrests Prisoners Abroad has started working with 65 new cases of Britons held for alleged drug offences abroad since April 2025 alone. Since the beginning of the year, a spate of similar incidents have hit the headlines, some taking place within days of each other. January 21: Thomas Parker arrested in Bali Thomas Parker, a 32-year-old electrician from Cumbria, was detained earlier this year after allegedly picking up a package from a motorbike driver in Bali, Indonesia. Police accused him of acting suspiciously, before dropping it in a panic. A lab test later revealed it contained around a kilogram of MDMA. He dodged the death penalty after investigators determined the package wasn't directly linked to him, and was sentenced to ten months imprisonment on May 27. February 1: Three Brits arrested in Bali Jonathan Christopher Collyer, 28, and Lisa Ellen Stocker, 29, were arrested in Indonesia, after authorities accused them of smuggling cocaine in sachets of Angel Delight pudding mixture in their suitcases. Phineas Ambrose Float, 31, was arrested two days later, after a sting operation set up by police in which the other two suspects handed the drug to him. April 22: Cameron Bradford arrested in Munich Cameron Bradford, 21, was stopped and detained by authorities at Munich Airport on her way back from Thailand. She remains in custody in Germany after allegedly smuggling cannabis. May 5: Two Brits arrested in Valencia Spain's Guardia Civil arrested two British citizens who arrived from France after travelling to Thailand. According to Spanish media, police found 33 kilograms of cannabis in their luggage after stopping the pair, who were "behaving suspiciously" in the airport. May 11: Charlotte May Lee arrested in Sri Lanka, and Bella May Culley arrested in Georgia Charlotte May Lee, from South London, was detained in Sri Lanka after police allegedly found £1.2 million of synthetic cannabis in the 21-year-old's suitcase after travelling from Thailand. Meanwhile, Bella May Culley was arrested in Georgia during a separate incident, after authorities accused her of "illegally purchasing and storing a particularly large amount of narcotics". They said up to 12 kilograms of cannabis was found in her luggage at Tbilisi airport. May 18: Two arrested in Ghana Two British citizens were arrested on the same day in "two successful operations", Ghana 's Narcotics Control Commission said. Brown-Frater Chyna Jade, a 23-year-old woman, was stopped en route to Gatwick by officers who claim they found 32 slabs of cannabis in her luggage. Three people, including 19-year-old British national Owusu Williams Christian, were arrested after travelling from Dubai. Authorities accused him of narcotics smuggling after finding almost 54 kilograms of cannabis in two suitcases. May 27: A 79-year-old man arrested in Chile A British man in his 70s was detained in Chile after travelling to the country from Mexico, police said. They claim five kilograms of methamphetamine was found in the bottom compartment of a suitcase in his possession. Why are numbers rising? Prisoners Abroad has partially linked a "sudden explosion" of drugs-related arrests to a ripple effect from the Thai government's move to decriminalise cannabis in 2022. "Some of this increase could be accounted for by the legalisation of cannabis for personal use in Thailand and the subsequent impact in other countries," it said. "People leave Thailand with drugs and are later arrested in countries of onwards travel, where these drugs are illegal." Following a recent spate of alleged smuggling cases involving tourists, Thailand's government is set to roll out stricter rules on the sale of cannabis, restricting sales to those with a prescription only. More than 50 Brits have been detained in Thailand for allegedly attempting to smuggle cannabis since July 2024, according to a joint operation with UK authorities. On British soil, there has been an "exponential increase" in the cannabis being found in airports, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has said Some 27 tonnes of the drug were seized in total, marking a five-fold increase on 2023. A spike in arrests saw 460 passengers detained after travelling from Thailand in 2024, with 108 arriving from Canada and a further 63 coming from the US. Despite many of the recent cases having links to Thailand, Prisoners Abroad told ITV News it may not be the only factor behind the recent explosion of drugs-related arrests. "The quantities and frequency of these new cases suggest something wider at play," the charity said. Penalties and punishments For those found guilty of narcotics smuggling, sentences vary across the world, with some countries, including Thailand, opting for capital punishment. In the UAE, where Prisoners Abroad believe the majority of Brits detained on drugs charges currently are, those found guilty can face life imprisonment or the death penalty. Smuggling drugs can also carry the death penalty in Indonesia. One 69-year-old British woman, Lindsay Sandiford, has been on death row in the country for more than a decade after authorities found cocaine in her suitcase at Bali's airport in 2012. Indonesia last carried out executions in 2016, where four people - three from Nigeria and one Indonesian citizen - were killed by firing squad over drugs offences. In Australia, where dozens of other Brits are being held on drugs charges, those convicted can face life in prison. Judges in Georgia could hand Bella May Culley life in prison if she is found guilty. Charlotte May Lee may face 25 years behind bars if convicted in Sri Lanka. What to do if someone you know is affected The UK Foreign Office has issued several guidelines for British citizens who are arrested abroad, and their families.
