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Boris Johnson says crossing Channel in small boats 'dangerous and criminal' Boris Johnson says crossing Channel in small boats 'dangerous and criminal'
(about 2 hours later)
Prime minister hints at law change to make deporting migrants easier PM hints at law change to make it easier to deport people who make dangerous voyage
The prime minister, Boris Johnson, has branded attempts by people to cross the Channel in small boats a “very bad and stupid and dangerous and criminal thing to do” and hinted at changing the law to make deporting arrivals easier. Boris Johnson has branded attempts by people to cross the Channel in small boats as a “very bad and stupid and dangerous and criminal thing to do” and hinted at changing the law to make it easier to deport such arrivals.
Johnson’s comments came as a French politician warned the UK’s decision to send in the Royal Navy “won’t change anything” and a former Home Office official said he was sceptical of the plans. Meanwhile, a French politician has warned that the UK’s decision to send in the Royal Navy “won’t change anything”, and a former Home Office official has said he was sceptical of the plans.
More crossings continued in the early hours of the morning on Monday, with an inflatable dinghy thought to be carrying more than 20 Syrians met by a Border Force patrol boat off the coast of Dover in Kent. There were more crossings in the early hours of the morning on Monday, with an inflatable dinghy thought to be carrying more than 20 Syrians met by a Border Force patrol boat off the coast of Dover in Kent.
The government has faced growing criticism of its handling of the crisis, which has been described as “increasingly chaotic”. The UK government has faced growing criticism over its handling of the crisis, which has been described as “increasingly chaotic”.
Johnson told reporters on Monday: “There’s no doubt that it would be helpful if we could work with our French friends to stop them [migrants] getting over the Channel. The prime minister said on Monday: “There’s no doubt that it would be helpful if we could work with our French friends to stop them [migrants] getting over the Channel. Be in no doubt, what’s going on is the activity of cruel and criminal gangs who are risking the lives of these people taking them across the Channel, a pretty dangerous stretch of water, in potentially unseaworthy vessels.
“Be in no doubt, what’s going on is the activity of cruel and criminal gangs who are risking the lives of these people taking them across the Channel, a pretty dangerous stretch of water, in potentially unseaworthy vessels. “We want to stop that, working with the French, make sure that they understand that this isn’t a good idea, this is a very bad and stupid and dangerous and criminal thing to do. But then there’s a second thing we’ve got to do, and that is to look at the legal framework that we have that means that when people do get here, it is very, very difficult to then send them away again, even though blatantly they’ve come here illegally.”
“We want to stop that, working with the French, make sure that they understand that this isn’t a good idea, this is a very bad and stupid and dangerous and criminal thing to do. More than 4,100 migrants and refugees have reached the UK this year in small boats, making the dangerous crossing across the world’s busiest shipping lane. At least 597 people arrived in the country in a surge in the number of crossings between Thursday and Sunday.
“But then there’s a second thing we’ve got to do, and that is to look at the legal framework that we have that means that when people do get here, it is very, very difficult to then send them away again even though, blatantly, they’ve come here illegally.” According to the UN refugee agency, there have been 14,288 sea arrivals in Italy so far in 2020, as well as 10,198 in Spain and 8,405 in Greece.
More than 4,100 migrants have now reached the UK so far this year in small boats, making the dangerous crossing across the world’s busiest shipping lane. At least 597 arrived in the country in a surge of crossings between Thursday and Sunday.
According to the UN refugee agency, there have been around 14,288 sea arrivals in Italy so far in 2020, as well as 10,198 in Spain and 8,405 in Greece.
Home Office data shows that in 2019 there were about 36,000 asylum applications made in the UK. The vast majority arrived in the UK by other means than small boat crossings over the Channel.Home Office data shows that in 2019 there were about 36,000 asylum applications made in the UK. The vast majority arrived in the UK by other means than small boat crossings over the Channel.
This compares to 165,615 asylum applications in Germany, 151,070 in France, 117,800 in Spain and 77,275 in Greece in the same period, according to Eurostat. The total compares with 165,615 asylum applications in Germany, 151,070 in France, 117,800 in Spain and 77,275 in Greece in the same period, according to Eurostat.
The home secretary, Priti Patel, headed to Dover on Monday, and was spotted disembarking from a police boat that had been out in the Channel. The home secretary, Priti Patel, headed to Dover on Monday and was spotted disembarking from a police boat that had been out in the Channel.
At the same time, the Royal Air Force (RAF) dispatched a plane to survey the Channel after the flight was authorised by the defence secretary, Ben Wallace.At the same time, the Royal Air Force (RAF) dispatched a plane to survey the Channel after the flight was authorised by the defence secretary, Ben Wallace.
On Tuesday, the immigration minister, Chris Philp, is due to hold the latest round of talks with French counterparts in Paris.On Tuesday, the immigration minister, Chris Philp, is due to hold the latest round of talks with French counterparts in Paris.
The Calais MP, Pierre-Henri Dumont, when asked about involving the Navy, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “This is a political measure to show some kind of resource to fight against smugglers and illegal crossings in the Channel, but technically speaking, that won’t change anything.”
Asked if it might be a deterrent, he added: “Yes, but that’s dangerous, because if there is a vessel from the Royal Navy trying to push a vessel, a very small boat full with migrants, back into French waters – first you could say that you’ve got British vessels entering French waters, I don’t know if the British government would be very happy to see the other way, if French vessels would enter without any asking before or without any decision before, into British waters.”
The Ministry of Defence is understood to be clarifying the request from the Home Office.The Ministry of Defence is understood to be clarifying the request from the Home Office.
As a preliminary step, an RAF A400M Atlas transport plane was dispatched to support Border Force, making it easier to pick out inflatable boats and other small craft attempting to make the crossing from France. Further military deployments could follow later this week, following discussions with France, although there is currently no scope for Royal Navy vessels to operate in French territorial waters to pick up migrants. As a preliminary step, an RAF A400M Atlas transport plane was dispatched to support the Border Force, making it easier to pick out inflatable boats and other small craft attempting to make the crossing from France. Further military deployments could follow later this week following discussions with France, although there is no scope for Royal Navy vessels to operate in French territorial waters to pick up migrants.
MoD sources added that both sides were processing what could be necessary to try and deal with the flow of migrants – but one insider said that using military force was ruled out. A suggestion from Dumont that Royal Navy ships might shoot at migrant vessels to deter them was dismissed as “dangerous nonsense” by one insider. MoD sources added that both sides were processing what could be necessary to try to deal with the flow of migrants, but one insider said using military force was ruled out. A suggestion from Dumont that Royal Navy ships might shoot at migrant vessels to deter them was dismissed as “dangerous nonsense” by one insider.
The former Home Office permanent secretary Sir David Normington told the Today programme he was “a bit sceptical” about using the navy and in his view the only solution is to work with French officials to “persuade them to intensify their efforts to stop illegal migrants”. Lisa Doyle, director of advocacy at the Refugee Council, said: “It’s incredibly disappointing to hear the prime minister using such inaccurate and inflammatory language to describe men, women and children who are desperate enough to make perilous journeys across the busiest shipping channel in the world.
“Seeking asylum is not a crime, and it is legitimate that people have to cross borders to do so.“Instead of scapegoating people in desperate circumstances, the prime minister and his government could address this by ensuring that people do not have to take these risks.“If there were more safe and regular routes in place for people seeking asylum – such as a strong resettlement programme, humanitarian visas and reformed family reunion rules – the number of Channel crossings would decline sharply.”
Stephen Hale, the chief executive of Refugee Action, said: “The government needs to move on from soundbites and focus constructively on serious and long-term solutions.“Britain is better than this. We have a proud history of welcoming people fleeing some of the most violent and oppressive regimes in the world and we can’t stop now.“We want the government to urgently restart and then commit long-term to its resettlement programme, which has supported thousands of refugees to make a new life in the UK. Equally, it must quickly reform the restrictive rules on family reunion so that families are not kept apart.”