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Calais migrant crisis: MoD to discuss offering land in Kent | Calais migrant crisis: MoD to discuss offering land in Kent |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Ministry of Defence land could be made available to help relieve traffic problems in Kent caused by the migrant crisis in Calais, the BBC understands. | Ministry of Defence land could be made available to help relieve traffic problems in Kent caused by the migrant crisis in Calais, the BBC understands. |
Plans to make land available are in "very early stages", sources suggested, with thousands of lorries still queuing on the M20 due to Channel disruptions. | Plans to make land available are in "very early stages", sources suggested, with thousands of lorries still queuing on the M20 due to Channel disruptions. |
The backlog has grown as migrants made fresh attempts to enter the tunnel on a fourth night of incidents in Calais. | The backlog has grown as migrants made fresh attempts to enter the tunnel on a fourth night of incidents in Calais. |
An emergency Cobra committee meeting is under way, chaired by David Cameron. | |
Travel latest | Travel latest |
BBC travel information | BBC travel information |
Calais crisis: Advice for travellers | Calais crisis: Advice for travellers |
The prime minister - who has completed a four-day tour of South East Asia - will consider how some 6,000 lorries stacked on the M20 could be moved on to other sites. | The prime minister - who has completed a four-day tour of South East Asia - will consider how some 6,000 lorries stacked on the M20 could be moved on to other sites. |
On Thursday, he said the UK would not become a "safe haven" for migrants, saying the current situation had been caused by a "swarm" of migrants crossing the Mediterranean and travelling through Europe. | On Thursday, he said the UK would not become a "safe haven" for migrants, saying the current situation had been caused by a "swarm" of migrants crossing the Mediterranean and travelling through Europe. |
At the scene | At the scene |
Lucy Williamson, BBC correspondent, in Calais | Lucy Williamson, BBC correspondent, in Calais |
After dark, the nature of Calais' challenge becomes clear. Hundreds of migrants walking together along the highway that leads to the Tunnel site. | After dark, the nature of Calais' challenge becomes clear. Hundreds of migrants walking together along the highway that leads to the Tunnel site. |
To get there they need to cross several fences and avoid security patrols. | To get there they need to cross several fences and avoid security patrols. |
Well before midnight, groups of several dozen were struggling under the freshly repaired fencing along Calais' railway line. | Well before midnight, groups of several dozen were struggling under the freshly repaired fencing along Calais' railway line. |
Some here have been discouraged by the growing number of police and television cameras. "The mood just doesn't feel right", one man told me. | Some here have been discouraged by the growing number of police and television cameras. "The mood just doesn't feel right", one man told me. |
But their long term goals remain and all the signs are that this week's new challenges - larger groups of migrants, better organised incursions - are becoming Calais's new routine. | But their long term goals remain and all the signs are that this week's new challenges - larger groups of migrants, better organised incursions - are becoming Calais's new routine. |
Continued disruption | Continued disruption |
Although sources suggested land could be released for an alternative lorry park to help ease the backlog - as Operation Stack remains in place - they dismissed reports that service personnel were poised to play any significant role. | Although sources suggested land could be released for an alternative lorry park to help ease the backlog - as Operation Stack remains in place - they dismissed reports that service personnel were poised to play any significant role. |
Potential locations under discussions included the disused Manston Airport, in Kent. | Potential locations under discussions included the disused Manston Airport, in Kent. |
Permanent secretary Mark Sedwill, the most senior civil servant at the Home Office, held a series of meetings in Kent on Thursday. | Permanent secretary Mark Sedwill, the most senior civil servant at the Home Office, held a series of meetings in Kent on Thursday. |
"Politicians and officials alike know they must both act, and be seen to be taking control," BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins said. | "Politicians and officials alike know they must both act, and be seen to be taking control," BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins said. |
Keith Vaz, the chairman of the home affairs select committee, said the issue was "an EU problem" and would only be resolved by a face-to-face meeting between David Cameron and French president Francois Hollande. | Keith Vaz, the chairman of the home affairs select committee, said the issue was "an EU problem" and would only be resolved by a face-to-face meeting between David Cameron and French president Francois Hollande. |
French authorities should deport illegal migrants to their countries, he said. | French authorities should deport illegal migrants to their countries, he said. |
Thousands of attempts have been made by migrants this week to get into the Channel Tunnel, with people gathering at fencing at its freight terminal in Calais. | Thousands of attempts have been made by migrants this week to get into the Channel Tunnel, with people gathering at fencing at its freight terminal in Calais. |
On Thursday night, the BBC witnessed hundreds of people push through police lines near the Eurotunnel terminal, before being escorted off the tracks. | On Thursday night, the BBC witnessed hundreds of people push through police lines near the Eurotunnel terminal, before being escorted off the tracks. |
The leader of Kent County Council has met Home Office officials to request support in dealing with the arrival of hundreds of young migrants in Dover. | The leader of Kent County Council has met Home Office officials to request support in dealing with the arrival of hundreds of young migrants in Dover. |
Paul Carter said a "massive logistical exercise" was under way in Kent, with the surge in the number of migrants arriving set to continue. | Paul Carter said a "massive logistical exercise" was under way in Kent, with the surge in the number of migrants arriving set to continue. |
In the last three months, the number of under-18 asylum seekers in the care of Kent County Council has nearly doubled to 605. | In the last three months, the number of under-18 asylum seekers in the care of Kent County Council has nearly doubled to 605. |
Mr Carter said the council faced a £5.5m shortfall in covering care costs and it was asking for help "from Theresa May down" to manage the crisis. | Mr Carter said the council faced a £5.5m shortfall in covering care costs and it was asking for help "from Theresa May down" to manage the crisis. |
On Thursday, police officers from neighbouring forces were deployed to Kent to help with Operation Stack - with the county's police and crime commissioner saying its officers were "exhausted after many weeks of long shifts in difficult conditions". | On Thursday, police officers from neighbouring forces were deployed to Kent to help with Operation Stack - with the county's police and crime commissioner saying its officers were "exhausted after many weeks of long shifts in difficult conditions". |
New fencing supplied by the UK government is being put up on Eurotunnel's French side and is expected to be completed in the coming days. | New fencing supplied by the UK government is being put up on Eurotunnel's French side and is expected to be completed in the coming days. |
Eurotunnel said other high-security fencing it was installing around the platforms at its terminal near Calais began working on Thursday. | Eurotunnel said other high-security fencing it was installing around the platforms at its terminal near Calais began working on Thursday. |
Are you in Calais? Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. | Are you in Calais? Are you affected by the issues raised in this story? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |