Latest news with #DavidBolt
BBC News
06-05-2025
- BBC News
Thousands of attempts by migrants to hide in vehicles at Channel ports
Migrants made several thousand attempts last year to hide on UK-bound vehicles at the Channel obtained by BBC South East show there were 5,874 detections at ports on the continent, including Calais, Dunkirk and the Channel Tunnel in Coquelles, compared with 4,794 in was stepped up at ports on the continent after more than 56,000 detections were made in government said it was taking the necessary steps to clamp down on all forms of people smuggling. 'Unrelenting threat' More migrants have crossed in small boats since 2018, but a recent report by the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, said "the threat of clandestine entry at the juxtaposed ports remains high and is unrelenting".David Bolt, the inspector, said: "Border Force resources and capabilities are stretched, and its operations and those of its security contractors are closely monitored by migrants and by smuggling gangs to identify and be ready to exploit any weaknesses."It's therefore vital that Border Force continues to invest in staff, detection equipment, and IT systems at the juxtaposed ports."Last week people smugglers who tried to bring five Vietnamese migrants into the UK hidden under rubbish in a van were jailed after it was searched at the Eurotunnel terminal in Coquelles. Previous BBC research discovered that over a 10-year period, civil penalties totalling more than £60m have been issued to lorry increased fines, introduced in 2023, any hauliers found to be carrying an illegal migrant can face a fine of up to £10,000 for each "clandestine entrant".Border Force issued 1,787 fines to hauliers in 2024-25, according to a Freedom of Information request by BBC South Moreton from the Immigration Services Union previously told the BBC how all types of road vehicles are targeted."It's not always a lorry of course, campervans are at risk," she said."People towing their caravans have found people inside them."Tourist traffic can also be fined. Last month a couple from Kent who were fined £3,000 for unknowingly driving two Sudanese migrants through Calais in a campervan had the penalty a similar case, a couple from Essex had their £1,500 fine overturned after a migrant was found zipped inside the cover of a bike rack on the back of their motorhome after returning from France. Before reaching the UK control zones, a tourist or freight vehicle will pass through controls operated by the port and French authorities, involving one or more checks by the port authority or security contractors working on its behalf. On entry into the UK control zone, a vehicle may be searched by Border Force or one of its dogs and carbon dioxide probes can be used to detect people on board Smith, former head of UK Border Force, said: "The juxtaposed controls at French feeder ports provide a critical component of UK border security, including preventing illegal entry."Without these controls, the numbers coming across from France would be significantly higher than they are already."He said it was "vital" that Border Force continued to invest in controls to "maximise our chances of detecting illegal entrants". A Home Office spokesperson said: "Border Force officers have discovered inhumane cases of migrants being crammed into the backs of lorries or heavy-goods vehicles for many years. "We are introducing measures in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill to allow government and law enforcement agencies to work closer than ever with the DVLA to intercept threats when a suspicious vehicle enters the UK."
The Independent
25-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Migrants detected at UK-France border controls ‘fallen substantially'
The number of people detected trying to illegally pass UK border controls in northern France has 'fallen substantially' but the threat remains 'high and unrelenting', the UK's borders inspector has said. An inspection of Border Force's work to deter and detect clandestine entry at the UK-France border found that resources were stretched and officers' security operations were 'closely monitored' by smuggling gangs ready 'to exploit any weaknesses'. Immigration and borders watchdog David Bolt said it was vital for Border Force to invest in staff, detection equipment and IT systems to counter organised facilitations and 'opportunistic jump-ups'. According to the new report, more work also needs to be done to understand why some migrants enter covertly at the UK's juxtaposed controls compared to crossing the Channel by boat. The UK's juxtaposed controls, where Border Force identifies people to be refused entry to the country before they leave French territory, are located in Calais, Coquelles and Dunkerque. The inspection report said in 2016, there were more than 56,000 people detected entering covertly compared to around 5,000 in 2024. It added that many argue the reason small boat crossings began in the English Channel is because of UK government efforts to boost physical security at the juxtaposed ports up to 2020, when curbing crossings became the focus. The independent chief inspector of borders and immigration, Mr Bolt, said: 'The relationship between small boats and clandestine entry through the juxtaposed ports is not well understood. 'This needs more attention, not least to get ahead of any displacement effect if new measures to reduce small boat crossings begin to work.' The watchdog added inspectors found there was 'no clear or compelling evidence' of a direct relationship between the two methods of entering the UK, but added: 'It is likely that a permanent reduction in small boat crossings would have some displacement effect, including to other European ports with ferry links to the UK.' Home Office"> The inspection report, first shared with the Home Secretary in February, was published on Tuesday following a new record number of migrants arriving in the UK after crossing the English Channel for the first three months of the year. Nearly 6,000 people have arrived as of Monday, according to latest Home Office figures. This is higher than the 5,435 migrants who arrived across January, February and March in 2024 – at the time, a record for the first quarter of a calendar year. It is also well above the 3,793 arrivals in the first three months of 2023 and the 4,548 in the equivalent period in 2022. Looking at why some migrants choose clandestine entry over small boat crossings, inspectors said cost was relevant, with small boat prices appearing to have no set price. But the report added: 'More work is clearly needed to try to plug this knowledge gap. 'However, it is reasonable to assume that a key point of difference is the intention of the vast majority of those arriving by small boat to claim asylum at the first opportunity, which over 90% have done, whereas a proportion of clandestine entrants hope to remain undetected in the UK for as long as possible.' Among the seven recommendations, it called for the Home Office to designate ownership of clandestine entries so that improvements can be made and maintained. It added at the time of writing the report there was no senior leader with overall responsibility for tackling clandestine entry despite it being categorised as the highest priority in Border Force documents. The Home Office has said the newly formed Border Security Command tasked with tackling organised immigration crime will support the role. A Home Office spokesperson said: 'The Home Office acknowledges the need for a co-ordinated approach to tackling the clandestine threat. 'The newly established Border Security Command (BSC) will deliver a major overhaul and upgrade in law enforcement marking a significant step forward in the fight against illegal migration and criminal smuggling gangs.' Elsewhere, inspectors raised concerns about fairness over the scheme in place which fines drivers up to £10,000 if a stowaway is found in their vehicle. The report said most of the problems with the Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Scheme (CECPS) were caused by being under-resourced in terms of staff and systems. Some drivers who reported people in their vehicles, for example, reported it to Border Force and still got fined, despite managers and policy staff agreeing they should not be. But the report added: 'The work required to codify the relevant guidance had not progressed due to a lack of resources.' Inspectors recommended that the Home Office seek regular feedback on the scheme from industry stakeholders and to publish an annual report into how it is working, which the department partially accepted. A Home Office spokesperson added: 'Work is already underway to modernise the way the Home Office manages the civil penalty system and since the inspection, the Integrated Platform Management (IPM) system, referenced in the report, was successfully launched in February 2025, updating working practices and driving efficiencies and improvements.'
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Migrants detected at UK-France border controls ‘fallen substantially'
The number of people detected trying to illegally pass UK border controls in northern France has 'fallen substantially' but the threat remains 'high and unrelenting', the UK's borders inspector has said. An inspection of Border Force's work to deter and detect clandestine entry at the UK-France border found that resources were stretched and officers' security operations were 'closely monitored' by smuggling gangs ready 'to exploit any weaknesses'. Immigration and borders watchdog David Bolt said it was vital for Border Force to invest in staff, detection equipment and IT systems to counter organised facilitations and 'opportunistic jump-ups'. According to the new report, more work also needs to be done to understand why some migrants enter covertly at the UK's juxtaposed controls compared to crossing the Channel by boat. The UK's juxtaposed controls, where Border Force identifies people to be refused entry to the country before they leave French territory, are located in Calais, Coquelles and Dunkerque. The inspection report said in 2016, there were more than 56,000 people detected entering covertly compared to around 5,000 in 2024. It added that many argue the reason small boat crossings began in the English Channel is because of UK government efforts to boost physical security at the juxtaposed ports up to 2020, when curbing crossings became the focus. The independent chief inspector of borders and immigration, Mr Bolt, said: 'The relationship between small boats and clandestine entry through the juxtaposed ports is not well understood. 'This needs more attention, not least to get ahead of any displacement effect if new measures to reduce small boat crossings begin to work.' The watchdog added inspectors found there was 'no clear or compelling evidence' of a direct relationship between the two methods of entering the UK, but added: 'It is likely that a permanent reduction in small boat crossings would have some displacement effect, including to other European ports with ferry links to the UK.' The inspection report, first shared with the Home Secretary in February, was published on Tuesday following a new record number of migrants arriving in the UK after crossing the English Channel for the first three months of the year. Nearly 6,000 people have arrived as of Monday, according to latest Home Office figures. This is higher than the 5,435 migrants who arrived across January, February and March in 2024 – at the time, a record for the first quarter of a calendar year. It is also well above the 3,793 arrivals in the first three months of 2023 and the 4,548 in the equivalent period in 2022. Looking at why some migrants choose clandestine entry over small boat crossings, inspectors said cost was relevant, with small boat prices appearing to have no set price. But the report added: 'More work is clearly needed to try to plug this knowledge gap. 'However, it is reasonable to assume that a key point of difference is the intention of the vast majority of those arriving by small boat to claim asylum at the first opportunity, which over 90% have done, whereas a proportion of clandestine entrants hope to remain undetected in the UK for as long as possible.' Among the seven recommendations, it called for the Home Office to designate ownership of clandestine entries so that improvements can be made and maintained. It added at the time of writing the report there was no senior leader with overall responsibility for tackling clandestine entry despite it being categorised as the highest priority in Border Force documents. The Home Office has said the newly formed Border Security Command tasked with tackling organised immigration crime will support the role. A Home Office spokesperson said: 'The Home Office acknowledges the need for a co-ordinated approach to tackling the clandestine threat. 'The newly established Border Security Command (BSC) will deliver a major overhaul and upgrade in law enforcement marking a significant step forward in the fight against illegal migration and criminal smuggling gangs.' Elsewhere, inspectors raised concerns about fairness over the scheme in place which fines drivers up to £10,000 if a stowaway is found in their vehicle. The report said most of the problems with the Clandestine Entrant Civil Penalty Scheme (CECPS) were caused by being under-resourced in terms of staff and systems. Some drivers who reported people in their vehicles, for example, reported it to Border Force and still got fined, despite managers and policy staff agreeing they should not be. But the report added: 'The work required to codify the relevant guidance had not progressed due to a lack of resources.' Inspectors recommended that the Home Office seek regular feedback on the scheme from industry stakeholders and to publish an annual report into how it is working, which the department partially accepted. A Home Office spokesperson added: 'Work is already underway to modernise the way the Home Office manages the civil penalty system and since the inspection, the Integrated Platform Management (IPM) system, referenced in the report, was successfully launched in February 2025, updating working practices and driving efficiencies and improvements.'
