A plea from mayors in Northern France has been directed at Sir Keir Starmer to tour the region in order to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of small boat crossings in the area. Stéphane Pinto, the mayor of Ambleteuse, stressed the importance of cooperation between the two nations, describing it as essential. Home Office Minister Dame Angela Eagle highlighted the intensified efforts of the UK government in collaboration with French authorities, noting that police in France managed to thwart 28,000 small boat crossings in the previous year.
Last year marked the deadliest period for small boat journeys across the English Channel, resulting in an estimated 78 fatalities among those attempting the crossing. Recent data from the Home Office reveals an increase in the number of individuals making the perilous journey, with 36,816 people detected crossing in small boats in 2024, surpassing the figures from 2023 but falling short of the record set in 2022. Mr. Pinto emphasized the urgency for the prime minister to witness the situation firsthand by visiting their shores and implementing measures to prevent tragic incidents.
Deputy mayor of Calais, Phillipe Mignonet, responsible for security, echoed the sentiment urging the prime minister to observe the predicament on site. Recent observations by the BBC unveiled a camp in Calais situated within a former wine warehouse lacking essential amenities like functioning toilets and running water, accommodating hundreds of migrants including individuals like Zinki from Sudan. Zinki, among others, shared tales of persecution and the harrowing experiences faced in their quest to reach England due to the perceived better conditions and opportunities available there.
While discussions of potential joint beach patrols were dismissed by Calais MP Marc De Fleurian, concerns about the involvement of British police on French territory were raised. Emily Featherstone from Care4Calais, a charity offering aid to migrants in the region, stressed the importance of establishing safer routes for those seeking refuge. Efforts to combat people-smuggling criminal networks in northern France have been bolstered by the launch of new policing strategies and the redirection of funds towards enhancing law enforcement responses to migrant Channel crossings
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