Tag: Calais

The Mirror found evidence of this early yesterday morning on a remote beach near Calais. We discovered a caravan and three shacks hidden in the dunes being used by the smugglers. In the caravan were large pieces of cardboard to sleep on. On the floor were a man’s four passport photos, obviously mistakenly left behind… Continue reading Migrants from France Part 22

The gangs’ careful planning to outwit police, coupled with the fact it is now very rare for anyone to get over by lorry, are other reasons for the rise in numbers trying to travel across on the water. It is impossible to tell how many have died. Former UK Border Force chief Tony Smith said… Continue reading Migrants from France Part 21

Ruthless people-smuggling gangs have moved into the Calais migrant camps and have drawn up a price list for desperate refugees who are trying to reach Britain. The highly organised Albanian-led groups charge £450 for a surfboard and £900 for windsurf boards tied together with rope. They only accept cash. A two-person kayak is £1,350, while… Continue reading Migrants from France Part 20

A Home Office spokesman said 45 people were brought to Dover passed to immigration officials. They gave their nationalities as Cote D’Ivorian, Guinean, Kuwaiti, Iranian, Iraqi, Etritrean, Albanian, Sudanese and South Sudanese. Minister for immigration compliance Chris Philp said: “French authorities stopped more than 1,000 migrants from crossing the Channel across the months of April… Continue reading Migrants from France Part 19

Migrants have tried to cross the Channel to the UK amid thick fog over the Kent coast. Border Force teams were seen earlier with a group of people thought to have attempted the crossing, and officials were spotted towing a rowing boat filled with oars into harbour at Dover. The small blue and white vessel… Continue reading Migrants from France Part 18

Mr Smith, an ex-Border Force chief said: ‘This was declared a critical incident by the Home Secretary last year. ‘In my experience critical incidents are declared in order to put out the fire if you like with a task force and that when the fire’s put out we return to business as normal. ‘It’s too… Continue reading Migrants from France Part 17

Mr Smith, an ex-Border Force chief was asked by Ruth Edwards MP about footage that has been widely shared on social media this week. The Rushcliffe MP said: ‘It appears to show a French naval vessel accompanying a migrant dinghy with migrants in it from French waters into British waters, which I think surprised a… Continue reading Migrants from France Part 16

It comes as Border Force patrols picked up another boat carrying 13 migrants today, taking the total who have reached British shores to 601 so far this month, with 57 migrants arriving on five boats yesterday and 64 on Wednesday. The small boat was picked up off the Kent coast at around 2.14am, with the… Continue reading Migrants from France Part 15

Tony Smith, an ex-Border Force chief has today said migrants crossing the English Channel are a ‘major threat’ to UK borders as another boat is picked up today, taking the total number to a record-breaking 601 so far this month. Tony Smith CBE, a former head of the Border Force, told the Commons home affairs… Continue reading Migrants from France Part 14