Migrants are "caught up in French waters by Border Force and transported to the United Kingdom."

PA

The UK Border Force reportedly intercepted migrants attempting to cross the English Channel in French waters and transported them to Dover, prompting an investigation.

According to the Daily Mail, the Home Office is investigating the confrontation between senior crew members of the HMC Valiant and the French patrol ship Athos last Saturday.

Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, has promised to make crossing the English Channel "unviable," but crossings have increased.

‘We are quickly investigating the facts surrounding this occurrence,' said a spokesperson for the Home Office.

This comes on the heels of 585 migrants being apprehended attempting to cross the Channel in three days this week.

The government's approach to combat Channel crossings, according to Enver Solomon, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council, isn't working and is certain to fail.

‘The reality is that ordinary individuals are obliged to take exceptional measures to seek safety in another nation when fleeing conflict, terror, and persecution,' he continued.

‘Rather than relying entirely on police to stop the crossings, this administration should expand safe routes so that people are not forced to risk their lives on risky voyages at the mercy of criminals and people smugglers.

‘The only way to properly address the issue is to create safe and frequent ways to the UK - through an expanded resettlement program, humanitarian visas, and changing the restrictive family reunion regulations.'

On Friday, French authorities dealt with eight separate situations involving 130 people, while the UK dealt with four separate situations involving 83 people.

On Thursday, Border Force personnel stopped 201 persons in eight separate situations.

On Wednesday and Thursday, French authorities stopped nine crossings, stopping 171 people from reaching the United Kingdom.

In comparison to the same period in 2020, the number of persons crossing the 21-mile length of water has nearly doubled in 2021, with more than 3,100 having reached the English shoreline by the end of May.

Protesters blocked access to vital trade ports in Dover last weekend during anti-immigration demonstrations.

Publish : 2021-06-06 20:04:00

Give Your Comments