Latest news with #Channelcrossings
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Trump praises UK on trying to reduce small boat crossings
Donald Trump suggested that the UK is 'doing a fantastic thing' in trying to reduce immigration via small boat crossings. Mr Trump said he knows 'nothing about the boats' when asked about the issue while meeting Sir Keir Starmer at his Turnberry golf resort, but said 'my hats are off to you' if the UK is trying to reduce immigration. Sir Keir and his wife Lady Victoria were greeted by the President and a chorus of bagpipes as they arrived in South Ayrshire on Monday. When Mr Trump was asked about how he would deal with small boats, Sir Keir explained that it refers to people who are crossing the Channel. Mr Trump told reporters: 'If you're stopping immigration and stopping the wrong people, … my hats are off to you. You're doing, not a good thing, you're doing a fantastic thing. 'So I know nothing about the boats, but if the boats are loaded up with bad people, and they usually are, because, you know, other countries don't send their best they send people that they don't want, and they're not stupid people, and they send the people that they don't want.' Turning to the Prime Minister, Mr Trump added: 'And I've heard that you've taken a much stronger stance on this.' Mr Trump later added: 'Europe is going… is a much different place than it was just five years ago, 10 years ago. 'They've got to get their act together. If they don't, you're not going to have Europe anymore, as you know it, and you can't do that. This is a magnificent part of the world, and you cannot ruin it.' The latest data from the Home Office indicates that 122 people crossed the Channel in small boats on Saturday. The meeting between the leaders comes as a part of Mr Trump's five-day-long private trip to Scotland. The UK US trade deal and the situation in Gaza are among the items expected to feature in their discussions at Turnberry. Mr Trump took questions from the press as the bagpipes continued to play. Asked about tariffs on whisky, he could be heard saying: 'We'll talk about that, I didn't know whisky was a problem. I'm not a big whisky drinker but maybe I should be.' And he said of the special relationship: 'Our relationship is unparalleled.'
Sky News
23-07-2025
- Climate
- Sky News
Coastguard responded to 'multiple incidents' involving small boats in Channel
The UK coastguard has said it responded to "multiple incidents" involving small boats in the Channel on Friday. HM Coastguard said Border Force and RNLI vessels had been deployed as part of the response. It came hours after Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron announced a deal they said was designed to crack down on small boats. The number of crossings tends to be higher when the weather in the Channel is calm, as it was on Friday morning. At least 21,000 people have already made the journey since January, putting 2025 on course to be a record year for crossings. The latest Home Office figures show 573 people made the crossing in 10 boats on Thursday. According to the Red Cross, many people cross the English Channel in the hopes of finding and joining family who have already made it to the UK. It says people are often separated from their loved ones as they flee their homes or on their journey in search of safety, which can take many years. Hundreds more migrants arrive on 'red day' Sadiya Chowdhury News correspondent @esadiya Today is an example of what the Home Office calls a "red day". It's 22C at the port of Dover, the wave level is low and visibility is good. The government says these conditions increase the likelihood of small boat crossings. Within an hour of us arriving, a Border Force vessel docks and a stream of people wearing bright lifejackets walk off and up the jetty to an asylum processing tent. Someone is carrying what looks like a small child - 81 people have arrived on this boat. It's deceiving standing on this cliff top, looking out at the blue-green English Channel glistening in the sunshine. This is not the calm body of water it appears to be. One of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, the journey across from France is treacherous, and as full of risks as it may be of hope and ambition. Judging by the numbers Sky News teams have counted today (296 arrivals so far), those making the journey have not been deterred by the prime minister's deal with the French. The UK hosts less than 1% of the world's refugees, with 71% seeking safety in neighbouring countries to their own. For example, the Red Cross says Jordan currently hosts 1.3 million refugees from neighbouring Syria. Many of those seeking refuge in the UK rather than other European countries do so because they can speak English. Under the terms of the "one in, one out" scheme agreed between the UK and France, people who cross the Channel will be returned to France each week in exchange for the same number of asylum seekers who have been accepted to come to the UK. Speaking next to France's President Emmanuel Macron at a news conference in north west London, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it would come into force in a matter of "weeks". "Migrants arriving via small boat will be detained and returned to France in short order," he said. "In exchange for every return, a different individual will be allowed to come here via a safe route - controlled and legal - subject to strict security checks, and only open to those who have not tried to enter the UK illegally." The prime minister said the arrangement would begin as a "pilot", with reports suggesting that just 50 people per week will be sent to France back across the Channel.
The Independent
22-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
‘World-first' sanctions to target people-smuggling gangs
The UK government has announced new plans to curb people-smuggling and illegal immigration, particularly targeting those involved in Channel crossings. The Foreign Secretary unveiled a new sanctions regime on Tuesday, set to come into force on Wednesday. These sanctions will enable the freezing of assets and travel bans for individuals and entities facilitating illegal immigration, including gang leaders, corrupt police officers, and suppliers of small boat equipment. The initial wave of sanctions is expected to include over 20 designations, publicly naming those involved and prohibiting UK businesses from dealing with them. Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated this is the world's first sanctions regime specifically targeting people-smuggling gangs, aiming to disrupt their global financial operations.
The Independent
21-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
The government plan to halt billion-dollar small boats and immigration industry
The government have announced new plans to curb people-smuggling and illegal immigration to the UK, including those involved in the buying and selling of small boats for Channel crossings. The Foreign Secretary announced on Tuesday a raft of sanctions that will be introduced to target anyone involved in assisting illegal immigration to the UK. This ranges from those involved in supplying and financing small boats, fake passports, and 'middlemen' putting cash through the Hawala system, a legal money transfer system, which is also used in payments linked to Channel crossings. Gang leaders, corrupt police officers and companies selling small boat equipment for Channel crossings could face having their assets frozen and being banned from travel to the UK. The first wave of sanctions comes into force on Wednesday, and will publicly name anyone sanctioned, so it will be illegal for UK businesses and banks to deal with them. The measure is expected to include more than 20 designations, and could include corrupt public officials and police officers in steps to tackle the multi-billion-dollar industry. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: 'For too long, criminal gangs have been lining their corrupt pockets and preying on the hopes of vulnerable people with impunity as they drive irregular migration to the UK. We will not accept this status quo. 'That's why the UK has created the world's first sanctions regime targeted at gangs involved in people smuggling and driving irregular migration, as well as their enablers. 'From tomorrow, those involved will face having their assets frozen, being shut off from the UK financial system and banned from travelling to the UK.' It follows legislation being introduced under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill to ramp up enforcement powers for police forces and partners to investigate and prosecute people smugglers. Fresh sanctions aim to target organised crime gangs wherever they are in the world and disrupt their flow of cash, including freezing bank accounts, property and other assets, to hinder their activities. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'It will allow us to target the assets and operations of people smugglers wherever they operate, cutting off their funding and dismantling their networks piece by piece. 'Through the Border Security Command and key partners like the National Crime Agency, we are strengthening our ties with other nations to tackle this global problem. 'Together, we are sending a clear message that there is no hiding place for those who exploit vulnerable people and put lives at risk for profit.'
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sanctions to be introduced to target people-smuggling gangs
Gang leaders, corrupt police officers and companies selling small boat equipment for Channel crossings could face having their assets frozen and being banned from travel to the UK in efforts to curb the people-smuggling trade. The Foreign Secretary announced on Tuesday a raft of sanctions that will be introduced to target anyone involved in assisting illegal immigration to the UK. This ranges from those involved in supplying and financing small boats, fake passports, and 'middlemen' putting cash through the Hawala system, a legal money transfer system, which is also used in payments linked to Channel crossings. The first wave of sanctions comes into force on Wednesday, and will publicly name anyone sanctioned, so it will be illegal for UK businesses and banks to deal with them. The measure is expected to include more than 20 designations, and could include corrupt public officials and police officers in steps to tackle the multi-billion-dollar industry. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: 'For too long, criminal gangs have been lining their corrupt pockets and preying on the hopes of vulnerable people with impunity as they drive irregular migration to the UK. We will not accept this status quo. 'That's why the UK has created the world's first sanctions regime targeted at gangs involved in people smuggling and driving irregular migration, as well as their enablers. 'From tomorrow, those involved will face having their assets frozen, being shut off from the UK financial system and banned from travelling to the UK.' It follows legislation being introduced under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill to ramp up enforcement powers for police forces and partners to investigate and prosecute people smugglers. Fresh sanctions aim to target organised crime gangs wherever they are in the world and disrupt their flow of cash, including freezing bank accounts, property and other assets, to hinder their activities. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: 'It will allow us to target the assets and operations of people smugglers wherever they operate, cutting off their funding and dismantling their networks piece by piece. 'Through the Border Security Command and key partners like the National Crime Agency, we are strengthening our ties with other nations to tackle this global problem. 'Together, we are sending a clear message that there is no hiding place for those who exploit vulnerable people and put lives at risk for profit.'
