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Calais migrant crisis: Theresa May signs deal with France Calais migrant crisis: Theresa May signs deal with France
(about 1 hour later)
Home Secretary Theresa May has signed a UK-French deal to tackle the Calais migrant crisis, as plans for a "control and command centre" are announced.Home Secretary Theresa May has signed a UK-French deal to tackle the Calais migrant crisis, as plans for a "control and command centre" are announced.
It will be jointly run by British and French police to target people smugglers, the Home Office said. The centre will be jointly run by British and French police and will "relentlessly pursue" people smuggling gangs, Mrs May said.
Speaking on a tour of Eurotunnel security, Ms May said the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands were in talks about stopping new migrant routes emerging. She also said she was "well aware" of the risk that Calais security would push illegal migrants elsewhere.
About 3,000 migrants are thought to be camped in Calais hoping to enter the UK Meanwhile migrant protests brought cars to a halt on a motorway in Calais.
Riot police used tear gas to try to disperse the protest, BBC reporter Amanda Kirton said.
About 3,000 migrants are thought to be camped in Calais in the hope of crossing the Channel.
The home secretary said it had been a "difficult summer" with high levels of migrant activity and strike action in Calais, but joint efforts with the French government were working.
'Functioning borders'
She said the new command centre would "relentlessly pursue and disrupt the callous criminal gangs that facilitate and profit from the smuggling of vulnerable people, often with total disregard for their lives".
France and the UK would also work with other EU states to try to ensure there were "fully functioning external borders and an asylum system that is resistant to abuse," she said.
Her French counterpart, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, said asylum seekers should be welcomed "with dignity", but illegal immigrants would not be tolerated.
"The joint statement that we have signed on behalf of our two governments constitutes a new and important illustration of this Franco-British co-operation which is particularly necessary given the gravity of the situation," he said.
The Home Office said the joint command centre, which will also incorporate the UK Border Force, would enable greater collaboration between countries.The Home Office said the joint command centre, which will also incorporate the UK Border Force, would enable greater collaboration between countries.
It will be led by two senior officers, one British and one French, who will each report to their own government. The Home Office is yet to comment on how many British police officers will be posted to Calais. It will be led by two senior officers, one British and one French, who will each report to their own government.
The joint deal also sets out other measures aimed at tackling the migrant crisis in Calais, including:The joint deal also sets out other measures aimed at tackling the migrant crisis in Calais, including:
Ms May began her visit with a tour of the Eurotunnel site in Coquelles with French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve to inspect security measures. Earlier, Mrs May toured the Eurotunnel site in Coquelles with Mr Cazeneuve to inspect security measures.
There had been been "an excellent level of cooperation" between British and French governments, but wider efforts in Europe were also needed, she told reporters. Speaking to reporters, she said Britain had begun talks with Belgium and the Netherlands, as the UK government was "very well aware of the possibility of displacement" of people trafficking operations after security was strengthened at Calais.
She said Britain had begun talks with Belgium and the Netherlands, as the UK government was "very well aware of the possibility of displacement" of people trafficking operations after security was strengthened at Calais.
Security measures at other northern French ports, such as Dunkirk, were also being scrutinised, she said.Security measures at other northern French ports, such as Dunkirk, were also being scrutinised, she said.
"Migrants are trying to come to Europe with organised gangs, people smugglers, trafficking people through to Europe. What we see here is a symptom of a wider problem." Former Home Office minister and Ashford MP Damian Green said the causes of migration needed to be tackled, as well as practical measures to "keep the roads running".
Additional security
Those trying to reach Europe include some refugees and "many many economic migrants," she said.
The UK government has already spent £7m on new fencing in and around Calais.
Former director general of the UK Border Force, Tony Smith, said a joint British-French command structure would allow authorities to gather much more intelligence on people smuggling networks.
However, former Home Office minister and Ashford MP Damian Green said the causes of migration needed to be tackled, as well as practical measures to "keep the roads running".
"Particularly countries that aren't torn by civil war but just have desperate economic conditions, you can help them, that's the root cause of the problem.""Particularly countries that aren't torn by civil war but just have desperate economic conditions, you can help them, that's the root cause of the problem."
Asylum applications up Asylum applications
The situation in Calais is part of a much larger migration issue in Europe.The situation in Calais is part of a much larger migration issue in Europe.
More than 240,000 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean already this year, arriving on the shores of Greece and Italy.More than 240,000 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean already this year, arriving on the shores of Greece and Italy.
Germany and Sweden have seen a sharp rise in asylum applications, with the German government saying it expects 800,000 applications by the end of this year.Germany and Sweden have seen a sharp rise in asylum applications, with the German government saying it expects 800,000 applications by the end of this year.
Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at Oxford University, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that compared to 200,000 asylum applications in Germany last year, the UK had just over 30,000.Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at Oxford University, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that compared to 200,000 asylum applications in Germany last year, the UK had just over 30,000.
The UK government faced challenges in trying to distinguish between illegal immigrants and asylum seekers, and "there won't be a 100% success rate", she said.
Migrant crisisMigrant crisis
Read more: Why is there a crisis in Calais?Read more: Why is there a crisis in Calais?