Priti Patel signals fresh crackdown after spike in migrants crossing Channel & vows to tackle ‘vexatious’ asylum claims

HOME Secretary Priti Patel has threatened to mount a fresh crackdown on migrants crossing the English Channel and "vexatious" asylum claims.
Her vow comes as the numbers attempting the perilous crossing from France during the coronavirus crisis continue to rise.
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More than 1,000 migrants in small boats have been intercepted by Border Force vessels as they attempted to reach the UK this year.
April has been the busiest month for crossings on record, with at least 476 migrants intercepted.
Ms Patel and the French government have been working on a plan to allow Britain to return illegal migrants to France.
But she said "too many are getting through" despite patrols being beefed up on both sides of the Channel.
SPIKE IN CROSSINGS
Ms Patel told the Home Affairs Select Committee: "We have seen greater dispersal across the French coast and we are seeing this now across the Belgian coast.
"What has happened in France, all credit to the French actually who like we are, despite lockdown and despite all the pressures with coronavirus, are deploying all sorts of activity and resources basically in trying to deter.
"So there is now 24/7 coverage on the beaches of northern France. We are using drones, we are using more detections, we are using ANPR.
"The fact of the matter is, not withstanding these French patrols, these extra patrols on French beaches and using specialist vehicles for detection, too many are getting through."
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In October, Ms Patel had promised that illegal crossings would be "infrequent" by spring this year.
But there has been a spike in attempted crossings by tiny boats in recent weeks.
The Home Office blames criminal gangs who are "using false promises to take advantage of desperate situations and illegally smuggle people into the UK".
On Monday, eight small boats bringing around 90 migrants towards the Kent coast were intercepted in Border Force and French authorities.
On Saturday, another 35 migrants were intercepted at sea by UK Border Force vessels.
And last Friday, 76 migrants were intercepted and taken to Dover
Ms Patel told the Home Affairs Select Committee: "There is a lot of work taking place. We have put forward some measures.
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"We are doing this directly through our embassy in Paris as well but I am doing it directly with my counterpart in France around returns and returns at sea which is exactly the point you are making and referring to.
"We are also going to go further than that as well, very much looking at, and this is a UK policy area not just with the Home Office but the Ministry of Justice, but looking at some of the vexatious methods that are being used.
"The vexatious claims around illegal immigration and asylum claims that come forward with many of these illegal migrant activities too."
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