Channel crossings: Patel warned against arrests of migrants who face risk of exploitation in France
4 years, 3 months ago

Channel crossings: Patel warned against arrests of migrants who face risk of exploitation in France

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Speaking at the Conservative Party conference on Sunday, she vowed to introduce “firm and fair” asylum process to “stop the abuse of the broken system”, and has recently praised the jailing of asylum seekers deemed to have steered boats, while the head of the taskforce tackling Channel crossings declared that anyone at the helm should “expect to be arrested” on arrival. Steve Dann, the Home Office’s deputy clandestine Channel threat commander, told a press conference on Wednesday that people who steered boats made up the bulk of 87 arrests linked to Channel crossings. Almost 7,000 asylum seekers are believed to have reached the UK on small boats so far this year and September was the busiest month yet, despite Priti Patel vowing to make crossings “unviable”. A Home Office spokesperson said “the courts have already shown that individuals will be sentenced for facilitating a criminal trade”, adding that a judge had dismissed a defence made on humanitarian grounds.

France Independent Work Asylum Free Migrants Channel Patel Priti Patel Nca Boats Crossings Channel Crossings  warned  risk  face  crossings  told  migrants  seekers  work  uk  asylum  france  arrests  free  channel  boats  patel  exploitation

History of this topic

At least three die attempting to cross Channel from France amid rescue operation
1 week, 4 days ago

At least three die attempting to cross Channel from France amid rescue operation

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery More than 150,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats …

3 die off northern France coast in a Channel crossing attempt
1 week, 4 days ago

3 die off northern France coast in a Channel crossing attempt

Associated Press  

PARIS — At least three migrants died early Sunday while attempting to cross the English Channel to Britain from northern France, authorities said. “There were more people attempting to board than the boat could hold,” he said during a press conference Sunday. “This morning, lives have been lost at sea because ruthless criminals running the small boat trade are overloading …

Asylum seeker boat pilot loses appeal over deadly sinking in English Channel
4 weeks, 1 day ago

Asylum seeker boat pilot loses appeal over deadly sinking in English Channel

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy An asylum seeker found guilty …

Furious French mayors accuse UK of ‘being in denial’ over migrant crossings in demand over cross-border deal
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Furious French mayors accuse UK of ‘being in denial’ over migrant crossings in demand over cross-border deal

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery Keir Starmer has brushed off calls from the French mayors They …

Verdicts coming in major French trial casting light on deadly migrant-smuggling trade
Trending News
2 months ago

Verdicts coming in major French trial casting light on deadly migrant-smuggling trade

The Independent  

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Migrants accuse French police of forcing them into Channel crossings as numbers hit new record
8 months, 1 week ago

Migrants accuse French police of forcing them into Channel crossings as numbers hit new record

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Why this endless torture of ripping apart our tents every few weeks?” Charity workers …

Children being used by migrants as 'human shields' on French beaches to stop police reaching their boats, Border Force official claims
8 months, 1 week ago

Children being used by migrants as 'human shields' on French beaches to stop police reaching their boats, Border Force official claims

Daily Mail  

Children are being used by migrants as 'human shields' on French beaches to stop police reaching their boats, a Border Force official has claimed. Nearly 121,000 migrants have now been intercepted crossing the English Channel in small boats since 2018, with 6,667 migrants having crossed so far this year, according to official data Ms Heginbottom added: 'We're working very closely …

Britain's FBI arrest six in raids on people smuggling gang after 100 migrants were found in lorry trailers coming through Dover into UK
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Britain's FBI arrest six in raids on people smuggling gang after 100 migrants were found in lorry trailers coming through Dover into UK

Daily Mail  

Six people have been arrested in raids on a suspected smuggling gang accused of bringing migrants from the UK to France in lorries. The suspects were arrested as part of a National Crime Agency operation, with dawn raids carried out across various addresses in north London on Wednesday. Six people have been arrested in raids on a suspected smuggling gang …

French report says the UK isn’t cooperating enough to curb migrant crossings across the Channel
1 year ago

French report says the UK isn’t cooperating enough to curb migrant crossings across the Channel

Associated Press  

PARIS — The United Kingdom is not sufficiently coordinating with France in efforts to reduce the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats, according to a French report that points to the “uncertain effectiveness” of illegal migration policies. The court “found that the British don’t provide usable information on the departures of small boats, and give very …

Nine boats carrying 537 people intercepted crossing English Channel
1 year, 3 months ago

Nine boats carrying 537 people intercepted crossing English Channel

The Independent  

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France and UK sign agreement to curb Channel crossings
2 years, 1 month ago

France and UK sign agreement to curb Channel crossings

Associated Press  

PARIS — The U.K. and France signed an agreement Monday that will see more police patrol beaches in northern France in an attempt to stop migrants from trying to cross the English Channel in small boats — a regular source of friction between the two. As scores of people were picked up and brought ashore Monday by a U.K. Border …

France and U.K. sign agreement to curb English Channel crossings
2 years, 1 month ago

France and U.K. sign agreement to curb English Channel crossings

The Hindu  

The U.K. and French interior ministers signed an agreement on Monday that will see more police patrol beaches in northern France in an attempt to stop people trying to cross the English Channel in small boats — a regular source of friction between the two countries. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the deal would mean “for the first time, …

France and U.K. sign agreement to curb Channel crossings
2 years, 1 month ago

France and U.K. sign agreement to curb Channel crossings

LA Times  

A British Border Force vessel carrying a group of people thought to be migrants rescued after a boat incident in the English Channel comes in to dock in Dover, England, on Monday. As scores of people were picked up and brought ashore Monday by a U.K. Border Force vessel, the British government said it had agreed to pay France 72.2 …

Asylum-seekers’ human rights ‘routinely abused’ in Calais, Rishi Sunak warned
2 years, 2 months ago

Asylum-seekers’ human rights ‘routinely abused’ in Calais, Rishi Sunak warned

The Independent  

People seeking to make the treacherous journey across the Channel to seek asylum in Britain are experiencing “routine” human rights abuses in northern France, charities have warned Rishi Sunak. “During these evictions, people’s limited personal belongings – tents, blankets, bags, identity papers, mobile phones, medicines and clothes – are often destroyed on the spot or thrown into skips,” Mr Sunak …

Police catch people-smuggling gang behind 50 Channel crossings
2 years, 3 months ago

Police catch people-smuggling gang behind 50 Channel crossings

The Telegraph  

A people-smuggling gang behind 50 Channel crossings carrying 2,000 migrants has been caught by French police. Each Channel dinghy generally carries more than 40 migrants and is said by police to have netted the smugglers around £70,000 apiece, or more than £3.5 million in total. A new analysis also revealed that the cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels has …

'Hundreds' more migrants picked up in Channel and brought ashore
2 years, 5 months ago

'Hundreds' more migrants picked up in Channel and brought ashore

Daily Mail  

Several hundred migrants, including young children, are estimated to have been brought ashore in Ramsgate today, taking the overall number of Channel crossings to the UK this year to 16,389. This comes amid reports the Home Secretary could announce another multimillion-pound deal with France in a bid to curb Channel crossings. Several hundred migrants, including young children, are estimated to …

Priti Patel’s Rwanda asylum plan may have led to increase in Channel crossings
2 years, 5 months ago

Priti Patel’s Rwanda asylum plan may have led to increase in Channel crossings

The Telegraph  

Priti Patel’s Rwanda asylum plan has failed to deter Channel migrants and may have led to an increase in crossings, an all party committee of MPs warned on Monday. The Home Affairs Committee said the controversial policy had encouraged people smugglers to “scaremonger” by telling migrants they needed to cross the Channel now before the plan was fully operational. “One …

NCA says tackling people smuggling is priority as 15 held over Channel deaths
2 years, 6 months ago

NCA says tackling people smuggling is priority as 15 held over Channel deaths

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy UK officials have vowed that tackling people smuggling remains a …

Zero migrants have crossed English Channel in nine days
2 years, 8 months ago

Zero migrants have crossed English Channel in nine days

Daily Mail  

No migrants have arrived in small boats across the English Channel for nearly ten days in what is being claimed as an early victory for the Government's new scheme for sending asylum seekers to Rwanda. The last migrants to arrive at Dover were a total of 263 across seven small boats on April 19 Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen said today …

Priti Patel bows to pressure to protect RNLI from being prosecuted for saving migrants’ lives
3 years, 1 month ago

Priti Patel bows to pressure to protect RNLI from being prosecuted for saving migrants’ lives

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Priti Patel has bowed to pressure to protect the RNLI …

Channel deaths fuel UK-France tensions over migrant boats
3 years, 1 month ago

Channel deaths fuel UK-France tensions over migrant boats

Associated Press  

LONDON — The deaths of at least 27 people in the English Channel is fueling tensions between the U.K. and France over how to stop migrants from crossing the world’s busiest shipping route in small boats. Despite a pledge from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron that they would “do everything possible” to stop people smugglers …

Deadliest Channel refugee tragedy raises alarm in France, UK
3 years, 1 month ago

Deadliest Channel refugee tragedy raises alarm in France, UK

Al Jazeera  

At least 27 refugees and migrants drowned on Wednesday, including three children, renewing humanitarian concerns and a diplomatic battle. Britain and France are looking at new measures to limit migration across the English Channel and break people-smuggling networks after at least 27 refugees and migrants – including three children and a pregnant woman – drowned off the northern French coast. …

Deaths in English Channel fuel U.K.-France tensions over migrant boats
3 years, 1 month ago

Deaths in English Channel fuel U.K.-France tensions over migrant boats

LA Times  

A group of people believed to be migrants is transported to Dover, England, via lifeboat on Thursday. Despite a pledge from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron that they would “do everything possible” to stop people smugglers from endangering lives, politicians on both sides of the channel are already blaming their counterparts for failing to prevent …

Migrant Boat Capsizes In English Channel; At Least 31 Dead
3 years, 1 month ago

Migrant Boat Capsizes In English Channel; At Least 31 Dead

Huff Post  

French police officers patrol on the beach in the search for migrants in Wimereux, northern France, on Wednesday. via Associated Press PARIS — At least 31 migrants bound for Britain died Wednesday when their boat sank in the English Channel, in what France’s interior minister called the biggest tragedy involving migrants on the dangerous crossing to date. Johnson said he …

Thousands of asylum seekers waiting to cross English Channel amid record small boat arrivals
3 years, 5 months ago

Thousands of asylum seekers waiting to cross English Channel amid record small boat arrivals

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thousands of asylum seekers are waiting in northern France for …

France not stopping Channel migrants, despite getting £54 million to fight illegal crossings
3 years, 5 months ago

France not stopping Channel migrants, despite getting £54 million to fight illegal crossings

The Telegraph  

The French authorities have told Britain they will not stop migrants at sea, despite receiving £54 million from the UK to combat illegal Channel migration. Calais MP Pierre-Henri Dumont said French vessels would not intervene to halt migrants boats, and would instead allow them safe passage unless they specifically asked the French for help. On Wednesday, Tory MPs warned the …

Record number of migrants cross English Channel in one day
3 years, 5 months ago

Record number of migrants cross English Channel in one day

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Home Office has pledged to crack down on illegal immigration across the Channel …

Record number of migrants make risky Channel crossing to UK
3 years, 5 months ago

Record number of migrants make risky Channel crossing to UK

Associated Press  

LONDON — Figures compiled by Britain’s Press Association show that at least 430 migrants made the perilous journey across the English Channel to the U.K. on Monday, a new record for a single day. PA reported Tuesday that the figure surpasses the previous high of 416 set in September 2020 and comes despite a vow from Britain’s Home Secretary to …

Migrants who steer dinghies across English Channel to claim asylum will no longer be prosecuted
3 years, 6 months ago

Migrants who steer dinghies across English Channel to claim asylum will no longer be prosecuted

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. New legal guidance released by the CPS on Tuesday says: “In cases involving the …

Nearly 600 migrants attempt to cross Channel in 72 hours
3 years, 7 months ago

Nearly 600 migrants attempt to cross Channel in 72 hours

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Nearly 600 migrants have attempted to cross the English Channel …

Migrants crossing English Channel should be returned to France, say Tory MPs
3 years, 7 months ago

Migrants crossing English Channel should be returned to France, say Tory MPs

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. She said: “That means tackling the criminal gangs at source, doing more to stop …

Border Force detain 49 migrants in English Channel
3 years, 11 months ago

Border Force detain 49 migrants in English Channel

Daily Mail  

Border Force detained 49 migrants at Dover after they attempted to cross the English Channel in three boats on Saturday - taking the number of arrivals this year up to 285. Six men were initially caught making the crossing in a brand new grey, yellow and blue rigid hulled inflatable boat amid calm and mild conditions in the early hours …

Patel warned over legality of ‘morally repugnant’ prosecutions of asylum seekers crossing Channel
4 years, 1 month ago

Patel warned over legality of ‘morally repugnant’ prosecutions of asylum seekers crossing Channel

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Priti Patel has been warned that “morally repugnant” prosecutions of …

Asylum seekers jailed for steering dinghies across Channel despite ‘not being part of criminal gangs’
4 years, 1 month ago

Asylum seekers jailed for steering dinghies across Channel despite ‘not being part of criminal gangs’

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Migrants are being jailed for steering dinghies across the English …

Channel asylum seekers processed in facility ‘resembling building site' where social distancing is ‘impossible’
4 years, 2 months ago

Channel asylum seekers processed in facility ‘resembling building site' where social distancing is ‘impossible’

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Asylum seekers arriving in the UK after crossing the Channel …

France rebuffs UK's drone offer to stop Channel migrants leaving beaches in first place
4 years, 3 months ago

France rebuffs UK's drone offer to stop Channel migrants leaving beaches in first place

The Telegraph  

France is rebuffing Britain’s offer of a hi-tech surveillance drone to help stop Channel migrants leaving its beaches despite the craft’s success in smashing a people smuggling gang. Dan O'Mahoney, the Home Office’s new migrants commander, met with French ambassador Catherine Colonna yesterday to urge her Government to step up its surveillance effort by using the UK’s Tekever AR5 drone …

Channel Crossings: Migrants found on Essex beach deported to France and Germany
4 years, 3 months ago

Channel Crossings: Migrants found on Essex beach deported to France and Germany

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy More than a dozen migrants landing at a beach in …

Channel Crossings: Boris Johnson calls for legal change to 'send away' more asylum seekers amid surge in migrant boats
4 years, 4 months ago

Channel Crossings: Boris Johnson calls for legal change to 'send away' more asylum seekers amid surge in migrant boats

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Boris Johnson called crossing the English Channel a "very bad and stupid and dangerous …

UK seeks French muscle to stop migrants crossing Channel
4 years, 4 months ago

UK seeks French muscle to stop migrants crossing Channel

Associated Press  

PARIS — Britain’s immigration minister said after meeting with French officials Tuesday that the two countries are looking to put new muscle into their efforts to stop a record number of migrants successfully crossing the English Channel from France to Britain in small boats. But migrants’ success at using small boats, including rubber dinghies and kayaks, to make the perilous …

Tory MPs claim migrants crossing Channel are 'invading' UK
4 years, 4 months ago

Tory MPs claim migrants crossing Channel are 'invading' UK

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A group of Conservative MPs says migrants crossing the English Channel …

Channel migrant crossings: Priti Patel was warned government policies were pushing migrants into dangerous voyages nine months ago
4 years, 4 months ago

Channel migrant crossings: Priti Patel was warned government policies were pushing migrants into dangerous voyages nine months ago

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The government was warned nine months ago that its own …

The UK has a moral responsibility to protect refugees making the dangerous journey across the channel
4 years, 4 months ago

The UK has a moral responsibility to protect refugees making the dangerous journey across the channel

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Over the …

Analysis shows 7,500 illegal Channel migrants could reach UK by Christmas
4 years, 5 months ago

Analysis shows 7,500 illegal Channel migrants could reach UK by Christmas

The Telegraph  

French authorities do intercept some vessels but, when migrants refuse and threaten to jump into the water, the patrol boats withdraw as the preservation of life is the first law of the sea. However, Ms Patel has said UK legal advice suggested the migrants could be forcibly returned and has already overseen sea trials in which Border Force officers worked …

Record number of migrants reach UK on day Priti Patel announces new approach to deal with English Channel crossings
4 years, 5 months ago

Record number of migrants reach UK on day Priti Patel announces new approach to deal with English Channel crossings

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A new daily record has been set for the number …

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