MIGRANT CRISIS
Skipper claims French patrols ‘not interested’ in stopping migrants crossing channel and ‘escort them’ through the water
A SKIPPER has claimed French patrols are “not interested” in stopping migrants crossing the English Channel.
The boat commander also revealed he regularly observes migrants being “escorted” through the waters.
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The UK government has promised to crack down on crossings as hundreds of migrants are attempting the perilous crossing from France during the coronavirus crisis.
However local fisherman Matt Coker has now accused patrols of making little to no attempt to stop migrants from crossing the border.
He told that more and more migrants are being spotted “on days like this, when the weather is calm.”
Today alone, Mr Coker witnessed multiple rescues of suspected migrants in the channel, with at least 7 boats intercepted.
Amid a reported increase in the number of migrants travelling to the UK by boat, around 65 men and women were spotted and taken in by UK Border Force vessels.
The large groups of migrants were packed tightly onto tiny, black inflatable dinghies - a scene Mr Coker described as “typical”.
The migrants were reportedly being circled by a French vessel for two hours before they were approached just a few miles from the shore.
After being rescued, around 65 migrants were seen being taken into Dover Harbour and led to a makeshift immigration processing centre.
Mr Coker said: “To be honest that’s not the first time I’ve seen that - quite regular.”
He added: “They don’t seem so interested in stopping the vessels as the do escorting them across.”
The Home Office confirmed there were a total of 9 separate incidents on the English and French sides of the Channel on Thursday.
157 suspected illegal immigrants were picked up.
57 men, women and children were taken to Dover.
The Home Office confirmed 100 were stopped and returned to France, amid growing concern that French maritime authorities have not being doing enough to intercept the boats.
SPIKE IN CROSSINGS
The allegations follow Home Secretary Priti Patel’s threats to mount a fresh crackdown on migrants crossing the English Channel and "vexatious" asylum claims.
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.
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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