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| Mayor calls for Keir Starmer to visit Calais migrant camps | Mayor calls for Keir Starmer to visit Calais migrant camps |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A mayor in Calais has called on Sir Keir Starmer to visit the region | A mayor in Calais has called on Sir Keir Starmer to visit the region |
| A mayor in Calais has called on Sir Keir Starmer to visit the region to better understand the impact of small boat crossings in northern France. | A mayor in Calais has called on Sir Keir Starmer to visit the region to better understand the impact of small boat crossings in northern France. |
| In a message to the prime minister, the mayor of Ambleteuse, Stéphane Pinto, said co-operation between the two countries was "a must". | In a message to the prime minister, the mayor of Ambleteuse, Stéphane Pinto, said co-operation between the two countries was "a must". |
| Home Office Minister Dame Angela Eagle said the UK government had "ramped up" its work with French authorities, revealing French police had stopped 28,000 small boat crossings last year. | Home Office Minister Dame Angela Eagle said the UK government had "ramped up" its work with French authorities, revealing French police had stopped 28,000 small boat crossings last year. |
| Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was in Calais last week to meet politicians and officials but Dame Angela declined to comment on whether the prime minister planned to accept the invitation. | |
| Last year was the deadliest for small boats crossing the English Channel, with an estimated 78 people having died attempting the journey. | Last year was the deadliest for small boats crossing the English Channel, with an estimated 78 people having died attempting the journey. |
| The latest Home Office data shows that 36,816 people were detected crossing the Channel in small boats in 2024 – up from 29,437 in 2023, but below a record 45,774 in 2022. | The latest Home Office data shows that 36,816 people were detected crossing the Channel in small boats in 2024 – up from 29,437 in 2023, but below a record 45,774 in 2022. |
| Mr Pinto urged the prime minister to "come and look at our beaches". | Mr Pinto urged the prime minister to "come and look at our beaches". |
| "We must put in place measures to stop bodies on our beaches," he said. | "We must put in place measures to stop bodies on our beaches," he said. |
| Zinki has lived at the camp for two months while he attempts to cross the Channel | Zinki has lived at the camp for two months while he attempts to cross the Channel |
| The BBC has seen a camp in Calais, located in a former wine warehouse with no working toilets or running water, which is home to several hundred migrants. | The BBC has seen a camp in Calais, located in a former wine warehouse with no working toilets or running water, which is home to several hundred migrants. |
| Zinki, from Sudan, has lived at the camp for two months while he attempts to cross the Channel. | Zinki, from Sudan, has lived at the camp for two months while he attempts to cross the Channel. |
| "I've faced persecution at home. For us, England works. The language is easier, some people have relatives there," he said. | "I've faced persecution at home. For us, England works. The language is easier, some people have relatives there," he said. |
| He also warned of the dangers of crossing the Channel, stating: "You see your brother die in the sea as you try to cross. Everyone has their own destiny." | He also warned of the dangers of crossing the Channel, stating: "You see your brother die in the sea as you try to cross. Everyone has their own destiny." |
| In a nearby camp in Dunkirk, Akan, from Iran, said: "It is very dangerous. Our boat got a hole in it and we were in the water for 30 minutes. | In a nearby camp in Dunkirk, Akan, from Iran, said: "It is very dangerous. Our boat got a hole in it and we were in the water for 30 minutes. |
| "We had to wait for the big French boat to save us. I thought we would die." | "We had to wait for the big French boat to save us. I thought we would die." |
| Last year was the deadliest for crossing of the English Channel | Last year was the deadliest for crossing of the English Channel |
| Calais MP Marc De Fleurian said he had ruled out joint patrols on French beaches, stating British police on French soil would make local authorities look "weak". | Calais MP Marc De Fleurian said he had ruled out joint patrols on French beaches, stating British police on French soil would make local authorities look "weak". |
| "I think British police would be perceived very badly by the French," he said. | "I think British police would be perceived very badly by the French," he said. |
| Emily Featherstone, from charity Care4Calais that provide tents and clothing for migrants in northern France, said finding safer routes was essential. | Emily Featherstone, from charity Care4Calais that provide tents and clothing for migrants in northern France, said finding safer routes was essential. |
| "What we offer in shoes, sleeping bags and activities isn't that amazing that people would travel here just for that," she said. | "What we offer in shoes, sleeping bags and activities isn't that amazing that people would travel here just for that," she said. |
| Last year, at least 78 people died attempting the journey across the English Channel | Last year, at least 78 people died attempting the journey across the English Channel |
| The Home Office said it had launched new specialist police and enforcement plans, including state of the art surveillance technology to disrupt criminal smuggling gangs in northern France. | The Home Office said it had launched new specialist police and enforcement plans, including state of the art surveillance technology to disrupt criminal smuggling gangs in northern France. |
| New measures to tackle people-smuggling gangs have been agreed by the UK and France, with more than £7m of existing funds redirected towards a "stronger" law enforcement response on migrant Channel crossings, a spokesperson said. | New measures to tackle people-smuggling gangs have been agreed by the UK and France, with more than £7m of existing funds redirected towards a "stronger" law enforcement response on migrant Channel crossings, a spokesperson said. |
| When questioned about what deterrent the government had to stop crossings, Dame Angela said "one is they [migrants] may die." | When questioned about what deterrent the government had to stop crossings, Dame Angela said "one is they [migrants] may die." |
| Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. | Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. |