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| Border police foil 56,000 migration attempts to Kent | Border police foil 56,000 migration attempts to Kent |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| UK Border Forces foiled up to 153 attempts by migrants trying to get to Britain from France every day last year, a BBC investigation has found. | UK Border Forces foiled up to 153 attempts by migrants trying to get to Britain from France every day last year, a BBC investigation has found. |
| More than 56,000 attempts were made by people trying to get into Kent from French ports and terminals in 2016. | More than 56,000 attempts were made by people trying to get into Kent from French ports and terminals in 2016. |
| The figures are the second highest in seven years, despite dropping by 25,000 compared to 2015. | The figures are the second highest in seven years, despite dropping by 25,000 compared to 2015. |
| The Home Office said the decrease was a "success". Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke said it was "shocking". | |
| The government figures have been released following a Freedom of Information request by BBC South East. | The government figures have been released following a Freedom of Information request by BBC South East. |
| The statistics include people stowing away in vehicles at Calais and Dunkirk ports as well as Eurotunnel and Eurostar terminals. | The statistics include people stowing away in vehicles at Calais and Dunkirk ports as well as Eurotunnel and Eurostar terminals. |
| Mr Elphicke said: "It's shocking that migrants at Calais tried to break into Britain more than 50,000 times last year. | Mr Elphicke said: "It's shocking that migrants at Calais tried to break into Britain more than 50,000 times last year. |
| "These figures underline the true scale of the challenge we face - and why we need more investment at our border. | "These figures underline the true scale of the challenge we face - and why we need more investment at our border. |
| "This is why we worked so hard to get the Calais Jungle dismantled." | "This is why we worked so hard to get the Calais Jungle dismantled." |
| The Jungle was home to about 7,000 residents living in squalid conditions and became a key symbol of Europe's migration crisis. | The Jungle was home to about 7,000 residents living in squalid conditions and became a key symbol of Europe's migration crisis. |
| It was torn down in October and migrants were bussed to reception centres across France to apply for asylum. | It was torn down in October and migrants were bussed to reception centres across France to apply for asylum. |
| The government worked with French authorities to disassemble the camp and has built a wall along the main road into Calais to prevent stowaways jumping into lorries. | The government worked with French authorities to disassemble the camp and has built a wall along the main road into Calais to prevent stowaways jumping into lorries. |
| Global border security consultant Tony Smith, former head of the UK Border Force, said massive investment in border controls in the past year had contributed to the drop in figures. | Global border security consultant Tony Smith, former head of the UK Border Force, said massive investment in border controls in the past year had contributed to the drop in figures. |
| He said: "The 56,000 [figure] is a direct reflection of the fact that we are now [working] with the French to conduct much more thorough checks, but also of the infrastructure, the fencing, and CCTV which have all been invested in. | He said: "The 56,000 [figure] is a direct reflection of the fact that we are now [working] with the French to conduct much more thorough checks, but also of the infrastructure, the fencing, and CCTV which have all been invested in. |
| "There was a huge community of migrants, smugglers and traffickers around Calais, but this new infrastructure, coupled with the work by the French to dismantle the camps, has had an impact." | "There was a huge community of migrants, smugglers and traffickers around Calais, but this new infrastructure, coupled with the work by the French to dismantle the camps, has had an impact." |
| The Home Office said the number of attempts included instances where the same migrants had repeatedly tried to gain entry on different days. | The Home Office said the number of attempts included instances where the same migrants had repeatedly tried to gain entry on different days. |
| A spokesperson added: "These figures make absolutely clear that our approach to securing the UK's border is working. | A spokesperson added: "These figures make absolutely clear that our approach to securing the UK's border is working. |
| "Despite our successes in preventing attempts to enter the UK illegally, we are not complacent. | "Despite our successes in preventing attempts to enter the UK illegally, we are not complacent. |
| "We will continue to work closely with our French counterparts to maintain border security and keep legitimate passengers and trade moving." | "We will continue to work closely with our French counterparts to maintain border security and keep legitimate passengers and trade moving." |
| The Road Haulage Association said violence at French points of entry has increased in recent weeks and drivers were refusing to make the trip. | The Road Haulage Association said violence at French points of entry has increased in recent weeks and drivers were refusing to make the trip. |
| Spokesman Rod McKenzie said: "Our members are terrified and angry. Gangs of marauding migrants, often armed with iron bars are attacking their vehicles. | Spokesman Rod McKenzie said: "Our members are terrified and angry. Gangs of marauding migrants, often armed with iron bars are attacking their vehicles. |
| "The police are heavily outnumbered and it's clear that they can no longer cope with the ever increasing numbers trying to make the crossing to the UK. | "The police are heavily outnumbered and it's clear that they can no longer cope with the ever increasing numbers trying to make the crossing to the UK. |
| "We hear of drivers refusing to make the journey between Dover and Calais while many hauliers are rerouting their vehicles around the Port at a cost of many thousands of pounds." | "We hear of drivers refusing to make the journey between Dover and Calais while many hauliers are rerouting their vehicles around the Port at a cost of many thousands of pounds." |