Latest news with #Calais
The Independent
14 hours ago
- General
- The Independent
France finally agrees to intercept migrant boats at sea - months after deal to stop crossings agreed
France has finally agreed to draw up a plan to stop small boats at sea by the summer, after police were criticised for standing by as people smugglers picked up migrants. The French government is understood to be enlarging its Navy with new patrol boats that could intercept so-called 'taxi boats' before they leave for the UK. The strategy is designed to be ready before French President Emmanuel Macron travels to London for a Franco-British summit on July 8. It comes after a furious row erupted over the lack of action as more than 1,000 people crossed the English Channel on Saturday. French police officers were seen watching as migrants, including children, boarded at a beach in Gravelines, between Calais and Dunkirk, while authorities were then pictured escorting the boats. Defence Secretary John Healey hit out at their failure to act – as he said at the weekend that Britain had 'lost control of its borders'. Ministers have been pressing the French government to put new rules, agreed months ago with the Labour government after they came into power, into operation that would allow them to intervene. On Sunday, Mr Healey said: 'They're not doing it, but for the first time for years, we've got the level of cooperation needed… We've got the agreement that they will change the way they work, and our concentration now is to push them to get that into operation so they can intercept these smugglers and stop these people in the boats, not just on the shore.' Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has also demanded the French start intercepting migrant boats at sea 'as swiftly as possible' after it emerged that a record 1,195 migrants reached the UK in 19 dinghies on Saturday. The figures brought the total so far this year to 14,812 - the highest on record. A French interior ministry source told The Telegraph: 'We are aware of the high stakes involved in interventions at sea and of the need to adapt our doctrine of action. 'Today, our intervention can only take place to rescue a boat already at sea, in particular because of the criminal liability issues associated with any interception carried out for any other reason. 'We would like to change this framework so that we can operate in shallow waters, up to 300 metres from the coast, and thus intercept 'taxi boats', while respecting the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, known as the Montego Bay Convention. 'The Interministerial Committee for Immigration Control (CiCI) has mandated the General Secretariat for the Sea (SGMer), which co-ordinates the State's action at sea, to draw up a proposal by the summer to change this.' The source said the government's objective was to have 'shared guidelines' ready for the July summit. The UK has a £480m deal with France designed to stop Channel crossings.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Afghan men jailed for piloting boatload of 70 migrants across the Channel - in crossing that killed woman and child on same day Dunkirk flotilla set sail
Two Afghan men who piloted a boat carrying 70 migrants across the Channel, during the same crossing in which a woman and child died, have been jailed. Shah Salim Sajjadi, 38, and Safiollah Mohammadi, 25, were detained after the packed dinghy arrived onshore in Dover on May 21. The vessel was among 13 carrying 825 people in total, which crossed the Channel as a flotilla of 'Little Ships' took part in a Dunkirk evacuation memorial on the 85th anniversary of the WW2 rescue. During their 45-mile journey to remember the rescue from May 1940, Border Force and the French navy asked the boats to clear a one-mile area so the migrant dinghy could pass through. On departure from a beach near Calais earlier in the day, a woman and child were picked up by a French coastal patrol vessel from the overcrowded boat after it got into difficulty but were declared dead. At the time, French officials said most of the rest of the migrants aboard the inflatable refused rescue and carried on to UK. French police are now probing the deaths under the direction of the Dunkirk prosecutor's office, the National Crime Agency has said. After the boat's arrival in the UK, Sajjadi and Mohammadi were arrested and questioned by NCA investigators before being charged with facilitating illegal immigration to the UK. A group of migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard an RNLI Lifeboat after a crossing on May 21 They later pleaded guilty at a hearing at Folkestone Magistrates' Court on 24 May and have now been jailed for eight months. NCA Branch Commander Adam Berry said: 'This tragic incident demonstrates just how dangerous these crossings are, and the callous nature of those who organise them. 'The boat in question was dangerously overcrowded, but Sajjadi and Mohammadi chose to carry on their journey. 'We continue to work with French colleagues to investigate the circumstances of this crossing and the fatalities.' Refugee charity Utopia 56 said it alerted emergency services to the tragedy, writing on X at the time: '"The boat is broken, two people are dead." This is the information we received during a distress call in the English Channel this morning.' Chris Cox, who was coordinating the flotilla celebrating Operation Dynamo, described the moment one of the boats carrying migrants was spotted by a French vessel He said: 'There was a migrant boat in the water that was being covered by a French naval vessel. He added that after being notified, he steered clear 'and let the authorities look after it'. He added: 'For the people in the small boat, they have never done this before, and they don't know what to expect.' The recreation, however, was unhindered on its journey from Ramsgate to Dunkirk, save for the interruption from border officials and the French. The Telegraph reported that sailors were told in a maritime frequency message: 'There is a (French) warship on our head with a migrant (boat) close by. 'And we've been requested to give one nautical mile distance from that vessel, over.' A French-accented voice, believed to be from the French naval vessel Oyapock, then replied: 'Thank you, sir. Thank you very much.' Since Labour came into power, 38,049 people have crossed the English Channel on 685 boats. That averages around 114 migrants crossing per day, higher than the daily averages under Rishi Sunak, 81, and Boris Johnson, 57, but lower than during Liz Truss's brief tenure, when it reached 212. So far this year, a total of 14,807 people have made the crossing. It comes after nearly 1,200 migrants crossed the Channel to the UK in a single day, with one of Sir Keir Starmer's ministers saying over the weekend that control of Britain's borders had been lost. The Prime Minister faced backlash over what was described as a 'day of shame' as a surge in dinghy crossings overwhelmed both French and UK border patrols. The latest Home Office figures reveal that 1,194 migrants arrived in 18 boats, pushing the provisional total for the year so far to 14,811. This is 42 per cent higher than the 10,448 recorded at the same time last year and a staggering 95 per cent increase on the 7,610 from 2023, according to analysis by PA news agency. It is still lower than the highest daily total of 1,305 arrivals since data began in 2018, which was recorded on September 3, 2022. But the total of arrivals for the year, 14,811, is the highest ever recorded for the first five months of a year since data was first recorded on Channel crossings in 2018. It has also surpassed the highest total recorded for the first six months of the year, which was previously 13,489 on June 30 last year - and in 2024, the number of arrivals did not reach more than 14,000 until July 9, reaching 14,058. At Gravelines in northern France, more than half a dozen French police officers simply stood by on Saturday morning and watched as migrants waded into the sea and scrambled onto an inflatable boat. French authorities said they rescued 184 people. On Sunday, Defence Secretary John Healey told Trevor Phillips on Sky News: 'Pretty shocking, those scenes yesterday. 'The truth is, Britain's lost control of its borders over the last five years. 'The last government last year left an asylum system in chaos and record levels of immigration. 'But I think that yesterday tells us a really big problem, which is that you've got French police unable to intervene and intercept the boats when they are in shallow water. 'We saw the smugglers launching elsewhere and coming round like a taxi to pick them up.' Mr Healey insisted there was 'new co-operation' with the French, suggesting their officials would intervene in the water. When asked whether he was 'hacked off' with France for not doing so now, Mr Healey said: 'They are not doing it, but we've got the agreement that they will change the way they work. 'Our concentration now is to push them to get that into operation so they can intercept these smugglers and stop these people in the boats, not just on the shore.' Reacting to the huge crossing numbers, the Conservatives' former Home Secretary James Cleverly today said: 'The arrogance of Starmer, Cooper and the rest. 'They thought border control would be easy for the oh-so-clever progressive Labour government. They thought they could achieve more by doing less. Their hubris is now plain to see. 'I warned Yvette Cooper that scrapping the Rwanda agreement would send the wrong message to people smugglers. She ignored me. 'I said the Border Security Command duplicated the work of the Small Boats Operation Command and therefore wasn't adding value. She ignored me. 'Scrapping so many elements of the Illegal Migration Act and fast-tracking asylum acceptances would attract more illegal migration. 'She ignored me. And now we see the worst small boat arrival figures ever.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
France blames Brexit for migrant crisis as Macron MP attacks UK's 'very weak asylum policy' which makes Britain 'El Dorado' for illegal migration
A leading member of France 's governing party has described Britain as an 'El Dorado' for migrants with a 'very weak asylum policy'. The comments made by Eleonore Caroit, 39, on Monday are particularly significant because she is a close lieutenant of President Emmanuel Macron, and vice president of the National Assembly's foreign affairs committee. The Renaissance Party member was asked if a generous benefits culture and lax controls meant the UK was still an 'El Dorado' – the mythical city of gold in South America. Ms Caroit replied: 'It is. It's a complex situation, people want simple solutions, but you have to go to Calais and see what it looks like, and how many small boats you have and how many people are waiting to go to the UK. 'So, of course, there is a part that can be improved in France, and we're working towards that. 'But I also think the UK needs to take responsibility, because it is so attractive on these migrant routes today, and we actually need to work together instead of blaming each other.' Ms Caroit was speaking to French media after British politicians expressed anger at the failure of the French to stop thousands of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats. Ten people have died this year alone making the perilous trip from northern France, and Saturday saw a daily record of 1,194 people reaching the south coast of England. The French stopped just 184 migrants out of 1,378 leaving their shores, most of them on flimsy inflatables organised by people smugglers. This brought the total for 2025 up to 14,811 – the highest ever recorded in the first five months of a year, and up 42% on this time last year. Ms Caroit said it was 'unfair' to attack French police for standing by as migrants headed for Britain. She said: 'Once the boats are in the water, it is impossible for the French policemen to actually intercept them.' Calling for a legal change to allow officers to intervene in shallow waters, Ms Caroit said: 'It's a matter of legislation, but it's also a matter, again, of what happened after Brexit. Before it was easier to have the migrants return. 'We need increased co-operation between the UK and the French, the authorities and policemen, so that we can actually have a clear division of what can be done when the boats are in the water. 'And most importantly, it is important to deter these boats from actually wanting to go to the UK. Because unless we stop this, we can put more money into it, but there will be more boats.' Ms Caroit also said Britain was suffering for no longer being part of the Dublin Agreement, which had enabled the UK to return migrants to the EU if it was shown they had travelled through a European country and had failed to claim asylum there. No replacement for the Dublin accord was negotiated in the Brexit talks, although Prime Minister Keir Starmer is seeking to agree a similar scheme. Ms Caroit said: 'One thing is certain – the numbers have been increasing since Brexit, because the UK is no longer part of the Dublin Regulation and has a very weak asylum policy.' The French have intercepted just 38% of migrants in small boats this year, down from 45% in 2024, 47% in 2023 and 42% in 2022. This is despite Britain investing £480million over three years to fund extra officers and surveillance equipment on French beaches.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
UK is ‘El Dorado' for migrants who get hotels and handouts, French MP slams as 1,100 cross Channel in just 1 day
BENEFITS for illegal migrants were slammed again today after a leading French MP said Britain was like 'El Dorado' for Channel crossers. Anger over relentless small boat arrivals has intensified after almost 1,200 made the journey in a single day on Saturday. 2 2 The mega rate of dinghies - up 40 per cent on last year - has also raised criticism of French cops' failure to intercept them despite being given £480million of UK taxpayer cash. But today a senior member of Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance party blamed the British government for making life 'so attractive' for potential migrants. Channel arrivals who claim asylum are given accommodation and food while their bids are being processed, with those unable to be deported given support indefinitely. Asked on the BBC if Britain was like 'El Dorado' - the mythical city of gold - Élénore Caroit told the BBC: 'It is. It's a complex situation, people want simple solutions, but you have to go to Calais and see what it looks like, and how many boats you have and how many people are waiting to go to the UK. 'So, of course, there is a part that can be improved in France, and we're working towards that. But I also think the UK needs to take responsibility, because it is so attractive to these migrant routes as of today, and we actually need to work together instead of blaming each other.' Sir Keir Starmer today insisted the government had ramped up the number of deportations and illegal working raids. He said: 'You have every right to be angry about small boat crossings. I'm angry too. 'We are ramping up our efforts to smash the people smuggling gangs at source.' It promoted a furious response from MP Rupert Lowe, who hit back: 'Don't put them up in hotels. Don't give them benefits. Don't let them stay - under any circumstances.' Police stood and watched as the gangs took advantage of calm seas on Saturday to launch 18 boats for the use of mostly young men. A total of 1,194 people made the crossing successfully, the highest number in a day since 2022. Officials said only 184 were stopped — fewer than 15 per cent. Photos of smiling migrants in the boats crossing the Channel emerged later on social media. It comes despite a deal agreed in 2023 to pay the French £480million to stop the crossings. Defence Secretary John Healey described the weekend scenes from the French beaches as 'shocking'. He said: 'Truth is, Britain's lost control of its borders over the last five years.' He said the smugglers were dodging waiting cops by 'launching elsewhere and coming around like a taxi'. Mr Healey said it was a 'really big problem' that, under French law, the police were not allowed to intervene once boats were in shallow waters. Watershed Day - The Sun Says THE arrival of 1,194 illegal migrants across the Channel on Saturday is a total humiliation for the politicians who have failed to keep us safe. It made a mockery of Keir Starmer's pledge last summer to 'smash the gangs' — and his much-trumpeted new £150million Border Security Command was quickly overwhelmed. And in an ironic reversal of our nation's Dunkirk spirit, local fishing boats were asked to help out. Meanwhile, the French cops — handed £480million by Britain — again stood watching uselessly as boatloads of mainly young men set sail unimpeded. The Government says things will change now it has persuaded France to implement new rules later this year to allow police to go out into the sea. Some hope, when French naval vessels have spent years merely escorting dinghies into British waters. The numbers of migrants stopped by France have fallen as our cheque paid to them has got bigger. The French blame us for offering benefits and free hotels and say the UK is an El Dorado paradise for illegals. It's hard to argue. Nothing will substantially shift the dial until a proper deterrent is found. Rwanda might have been it. The PM scrapped it. This should be a watershed moment. Depressingly, the problem this summer is only likely to get worse.
The Independent
3 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Healey slams ‘shocking' scenes of smugglers picking up migrants ‘like a taxi'
The Defence Secretary has pointed the finger at French authorities after 'shocking' images of migrants being picked up by smugglers 'like a taxi' to be brought to the UK. Hundreds of migrants are thought to have crossed the English Channel in small boats on Saturday, with at least six boats spotted leaving beaches in France. French police officers were seen watching as migrants, including children, boarded at a beach in Gravelines, between Calais and Dunkirk, and authorities were then pictured escorting the boats. French authorities said they rescued 184 people and that numerous boat departures were reported. 'Pretty shocking, those scenes yesterday,' John Healey told the Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme on Sky News. 'Truth is, Britain's lost control of its borders over the last five years, and the last government last year left an asylum system in chaos and record levels of immigration.' The Defence Secretary said it is a 'really big problem' that French police are unable to intervene to intercept boats in shallow waters. 'We saw the smugglers launching elsewhere and coming around like a taxi to pick them up,' he added. He said the UK is pressing for the French to put new rules into operation so they can intervene. 'They're not doing it, but, but for the first time for years, for the first time, we've got the level of co-operation needed. 'We've got the agreement that they will change the way they work, and our concentration now is to push them to get that into operation so they can intercept these smugglers and stop these people in the boats, not just on the shore.' The highest number of arrivals recorded on a single day so far this year was 825 on May 21. This year is on course to set a record for Channel crossings, with more than 13,000 people having arrived so far, up 30% on this point last year, according to analysis of the data by the PA news agency. Sir Keir Starmer's Government has pledged to crack down on small boat crossings including with measures targeting smuggling gangs. A Home Office source said: 'We have developed strong co-operation with the French and it is important that they have agreed to disrupt these boats once they're in the water – and not just on the shore. 'This vital step now needs to be operationalised to protect border security and save lives.' A Home Office spokesperson pointed to measures to share intelligence internationally, enhance enforcement operations in northern France and introduce tougher rules in its immigration legislation. 'We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security. 'The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die as long as they pay, and we will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice. 'That is why this Government has put together a serious plan to take down these networks at every stage.'
