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Migrant crossings: Use of navy ships to stop boats 'dangerous' Migrant crossings: Use of navy ships to stop boats 'dangerous'
(32 minutes later)
Using Royal Navy ships to help stop migrants crossing the English Channel is "dangerous" and "won't change anything", a Calais politician said. Using Royal Navy ships to help stop migrants crossing the English Channel is "dangerous" and "won't change anything", a Calais politician says.
On Saturday the Home Office said it had asked defence chiefs for help to make crossings in small boats "unviable". On Saturday the Home Office asked defence chiefs for help to make crossings in small boats "unviable".
More migrants in a boat were picked up by Border Force officials on Monday morning, the BBC's Simon Jones said. More migrants in a boat were picked up by Border Force on Monday morning, the BBC's Simon Jones reported.
More than 4,000 people have successfully crossed the Channel from France in small boats so far this year.More than 4,000 people have successfully crossed the Channel from France in small boats so far this year.
Pierre-Henri Dumont, the National Assembly member for Calais, told the BBC: "What is the British navy going to do if it sees a small boat? Is it going to shoot the boat? Is it going to enter French waters?Pierre-Henri Dumont, the National Assembly member for Calais, told the BBC: "What is the British navy going to do if it sees a small boat? Is it going to shoot the boat? Is it going to enter French waters?
"It's a political measure to show some kind of muscle but technically speaking it won't change anything.""It's a political measure to show some kind of muscle but technically speaking it won't change anything."
He said the French authorities needed to monitor about 300 miles of coastline if they were to stop migrants launching small boats from French shores.He said the French authorities needed to monitor about 300 miles of coastline if they were to stop migrants launching small boats from French shores.
"We are already trying to whatever we can. We can't have a camera and police officer every 10 metres.""We are already trying to whatever we can. We can't have a camera and police officer every 10 metres."
More than 700 people were intercepted crossing the English Channel last week, including 235 - the record for a single day - on Thursday.
The Ministry of Defence says it has sent an RAF Atlas surveillance aircraft to help Border Force operations in the English Channel.
UK immigration minister Chris Philp is due to go to Paris this week to demand stronger measures from French authorities.UK immigration minister Chris Philp is due to go to Paris this week to demand stronger measures from French authorities.
He said he wanted to make the route "completely unviable" so migrants "will have no incentive to come to northern France or attempt the crossing in the first place".He said he wanted to make the route "completely unviable" so migrants "will have no incentive to come to northern France or attempt the crossing in the first place".
He said he also wanted to "return as many migrants who have arrived as possible", adding there were "returns flights planned in the coming days". Mr Philp added he also wanted to "return as many migrants who have arrived as possible", adding there were "returns flights planned in the coming days".
More than 700 people were intercepted crossing the English Channel last week, including 235 - the record for a single day - on Thursday.
Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk.Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk.