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Big rise in Calais migrants trying to break into Britain
Peter Allen, in Paris30.07.09
THE number of illegal migrants arrested in lorries heading to Britain from Calais has risen by 76 per cent this year, it emerged today.
The figure equates to 13,715 people being stopped in lorries between January and June, compared with 7,760 in the same period last year. Most were released without charge, allowing them to resume their bids to enter Britain.
A further 5,207 people were stopped across the Calais region, making a total of 18,922 arrests. Of these just 5,865 - or 31 per cent - were investigated. Without money or official papers, they were practically impossible to prosecute.
A spokesman for the French Frontier Police said: "At most we were able to deport them to the country which they arrived from. Unfortunately in most cases this turned out to be Belgium, which meant we left them over the border, before they arrived back in Calais a few hours later."
An Anglo-French committee of police and council officials in Calais is trying to resolve the problem.
Reader views (8)
This is not a British problem it is a French problem that they refuse to do anything about, even though we have given them millions to clean this mess up.
@ Reuben Camara
You must get that Caps Lock button fixed!
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
We need to change the legal system and revoke the Human Rights Act if necessary to enable immediate deportation of illegals and then give a Border force the powers to stop people not just a ports and airports, but anywhere in the UK and show identification and prove they have the right to be here otherwise into custody and out immediately. The people in Calais know that once they are IN, no-one touches them and that's an incentive to come.
- Ab, London
Why is nobody going the other way? Maybe the French make things uncomfortable and the Brits are too generous? Now the country is going broke, maybe it is a good opportunity to cut the financial support that attracts these people and give the council houses to established citizens, without all the bleeding hearts getting up tight.
- Coylum, vancouver, Canada
As long as 'asylum seekers' get free housing, free healthcare, free utilities and a raft of 'Yewman Rites', this problem will only get worse. The border controls begin with Parliament making life very uncomfortable and unattractive for these people then the message will gradually filter through. Unfortunately, as with everything else, political will is non-existent.
- Joannie, London, England
injecting a tiny RFID chip into their necks might be a start. The Chip could provide all details/data so that they can just be scanned at point of entry, arrest or deportation - like with dogs!
- Gary, amersham
It has come to this; Every lorry must be inspected.
- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London
Well they would do.If I were an asylum seeker I'd do exactly the same.You can't blame the French either.At the end of the day this government actually wants them.It's all part of the dumbing down of Britain.Thing is,we pay for it whether we agree or not.
- Stan, London
Never mind about the few thousand illegal migrants trying to get into the UK - WHAT ABOUT THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ILLEGAL MIGRANTS WHO ARE WELL-ENTRENCHED IN THE UK ALREADY AND THE HOME OFFICE DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE WHO THEY ARE OR WHERE THESE UNDESIRABLES ARE?
- Reuben Camara, Republic of Morecambe, UK
