Record number of people cross Channel to UK in small boats

[dutchman]

Figures will prompt concern in No 10 and Home Office after pledges to curb numbers entering country



The number of people crossing the Channel by small boats in a single day reached a record number for this century on Wednesday, eclipsing the daily arrival figures during the summer.

Despite the low November temperatures, at least 853 people came to the UK, the Home Office confirmed. The figure surpasses the previous daily record of 828 set in August.

The figures will prompt renewed concern in Downing Street and the Home Office after high-profile pledges that the numbers of people entering the UK by boat would be curbed. It was widely assumed that the numbers of arrivals by boat would drop in the winter.

They come after a week of fatalities for those trying to leave France for the UK. A train struck and killed a person from Eritrea near Calais and at least two bodies were recovered from the sea and a beach.

The Home Office confirmed on Friday that the UK authorities rescued or intercept 853 people in 25 incidents. French authorities said two people died this week while attempting the journey and several more were feared lost at sea last week.

Bridget Chapman, a case worker at Kent Refugee Action Network, which helps young refugee and asylum seekers, said recent rivals may have made the crossing on Wednesday because of clear weather and because of their increasingly desperate plight in France.

“It was a cold but calm day to cross the Channel, followed by bad weather. We also hear that the conditions in Calais for people living rough are getting worse – French police beat young men and break up roadside encampments,” she said.

More than 21,000 people have made the crossing to the UK so far this year, more than double the total for the whole of 2020.

In 2019, the home secretary, Priti Patel, promised to make migrant crossings an “infrequent phenomenon” by spring 2020 and pledged in August last year to “make this route unviable”. During this time, the government has agreed to pay France tens of millions of pounds to increase security on its northern coast.

[dutchman]

Border Force is REFUSING to turn back migrant boats despite Priti Patel's vow



The Home Secretary's plan to turn back migrant boats is not being implemented by border force for fear it will lead to the death of more migrants.

Yesterday, the home office said a record 853 migrants crossed the channel on Wednesday.

It takes the total number this year to 21,050 which is double the number for all of last year.

In separate incidents this week, three migrants died trying to cross the channel.

Priti Patel announced her plan to turn back migrants in a Tory conference last month after she took legal advice, according to the Times.

Border Force has rejected requests to use Ms Patel's new strategy, citing objections such as weather and size of boats being intercepted.

Officials said they do not think the policy will be implemented because of conditions which have to be met and the agency's lack of support for it.

The Border Force officer said: 'There is fairly universal agreement that this is not likely to ever happen.

'The captains of the cutters have control of the process and in practice, if they're not willing to use it, it will never happen.'

The official said the force will 'not be easily pushed about' by the Home Secretary but it is the captain of each vessel's decision.

Lucy Moreton, of the Immigration Services Union, which represents frontline Border Force staff, said the tactics were unlikely ever to be used because of the risk of killing people.

Ms Moreton said safety at sea is paramount and pushback cannot be used on a vulnerable boat. Small boats are more likely to be vulnerable.

She said the force cannot turn back a vessel in trouble unless the French are there to receive it and they won't cooperate with the policy because they do not think it is 'legal.'

Turnback powers are ready to be used after the prime minister gave the green light at the end of September.

Border Force has been seen off Dover practicing the tactics, involving three jet skis surrounding a migrant boat and directing it back to France.

According to guidance, the tactic can only be used in the Channel sections which are 1.8 miles wide and a commander can only agree to the procedure if it is confirmed that a French navy or rescue boat can escort the boat back.

Other safety rules must also be met including weather, sea conditions, number of migrants and size of the boat.

[rebbonk]

Border Farce was refusing to go out Wednesday due 'rough' seas.

The RNLI was being used as a taxi service and from a couple of tweets I saw, those at the 'sharp end' are getting rather p*ssed off.

I'm afraid I agree with Farage, simply collect up the boats and their content then dump them back on the French beaches. Yes, it's a breach of plenty of laws but it's the only way we're going to stop this stupidity. Of course, this assumes that those in Office really want to stop it from happening! - And I have my doubts about that.

[dutchman]

Number of migrants crossing Channel to UK tops 1,000 in new daily record



A further 1,185 people crossed the English Channel by boat to reach the UK on Thursday, a new record for migrant crossings in a single day - as mild weather made the journey less risky.

Four Border Force vessels intercepted boats that were spotted off the coast and escorted them into Dover.

Three people are feared lost at sea as two kayaks were found adrift near Calais, French authorities said.

A Whitehall source accused France of losing control of the situation.

More than 23,000 people have made the crossing from France to the UK by boat so far this year, a sharp rise on the 8,404 in 2020 - and far more than in years before the pandemic, when most asylum seekers arrived by plane, ferry or train.

On Friday the Home Office confirmed the exact numbers, saying 1,185 people were rescued - or intercepted and brought to shore - by the Border Force.

A Home Office spokesperson said the number of migrant crossings on Thursday was "unacceptable". The previous record was 853 people crossing on 3 November.

[dutchman]

Meanwhile Britain is sending troops to prevent migrants from crossing from Belarus into Poland!

[rebbonk]

Most of the people that I socialise with I'd describe as very liberal lefties. However, over the past few weeks, I've noticed a definite hardening of their attitudes to this type of thing. People really are getting p*ssed of with it. If Bozo doesn't take decisive and positive action, and soon, I foresee trouble on the streets. I don't think time is on his side.

[dutchman]

Navy could step in to stem surge of illegal crossings in key part of Boris Johnson’s ‘Operation Red Meat’ fightback



The military is to be put in charge of stemming the surge in illegal migrants crossing the Channel and could take charge of controversial “pushback” tactics to turn away boats at sea.

Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, is expected to announce the move within weeks as part of Boris Johnson’s attempted fightback. Dubbed Operation Red Meat, it is aimed at wooing back voters with populist policies after the “partygate” scandal.

The Armed Forces will be able to deploy Naval ships, boats and sophisticated surveillance technology to bolster Border Force, which is limited to just five cutters.

The Navy will step in if Border Force officers go on strike or refuse to deploy the pushback tactics, where jet skis block and redirect migrants’ boats back towards France.

It is designed to combat record numbers of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats, but has not yet been used - despite being legally signed off by government lawyers in September.

The Public and Commercial Services Union, which represents some border and immigration officials, has said it “totally opposes” the policy and has threatened strike action. It has also joined with the Care4Calais charity to seek a judicial review of the tactic, which it claims is illegal.

Ministers are also being urged by some border officials to let the military transport migrants go to offshore processing centres, as proposed in the Government’s nationality and borders bill, or even operate deportation flights of foreign criminals.

Military accommodation, including barracks, could also be used to house migrants rather than hotels, before the Government's new network of reception centres are built.

A government source said it would be up to the Ministry of Defence to determine operational deployments. “Priti called for the military to defend UK territorial waters against illegal migration in August 2020, when the first request for support went into the MoD,” said a Whitehall source.

“After months of cross government wrangling, the Prime Minister has agreed with Priti that a clear operational deterrent with the support of the MoD and a change in at sea posture is required. Current Border Force operations are hampered by trade union actions.”

The moves follow a record 28,300 migrants crossing the Channel to the UK last year, more than three times the 8,400 in 2020. There is no sign of a decline this year - 581 have already crossed the Channel this month, already more than double the total for January last year.

[dutchman]

All talk, no action!

[rebbonk]

What we are seeing is Bozo running out of control, trying everything to deflect attention away from his own misdemeanours and save his own miserable neck.

I always thought of him as a self-centred buffoon and complete fool, despite others telling me he was intelligent and insightful. I stand by my assessment, he should never have been made PM.

My worry is that in his present out of control and irrational state he will do something silly that causes the country real future problems. The Tory party need to force him out, and quickly.

[dutchman]