The UK and France came together today to seal a historic deal that aims to target the small boats crisis placing pressure on the British immigration system.
So far this year, Channel crossings are believed to have reached over 40,000. The deal today is expected to help prevent people from making the dangerous journey to the UK across the channel - often by small boats.
As part of the deal, British staff will be placed in French control rooms for the first time ever. Further measures signed off by Paris include more investment in CCTV, dog detection teams to help keep tabs on ports, and better equipment for officers including drones and night vision devices.
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Meanwhile, both countries agreed to improve cooperation on the issue towards its European neighbours, with a meeting of the 'Calais Group' to be scheduled as soon as possible. Furthermore, a new task force will be established to look at the "recent rise in Albanians and organised crime groups exploiting illegal migration routes," No 10 said.
Analysis teams comprised of both British and French will also cooperate to improve sharing information. The deal also pledges a higher investment in French reception and removal centres for migrants who have been prevented from making the crossing to the UK.
The agreement was signed by Home Secretary Suella Braverman and French interior minister Gerald Darmanin on Monday morning. Speaking about the deal, Prime Minister RIshi Sunak said it would contribute to his efforts to "grip illegal migration," while adding that was "confident" numbers would drop down over time.
According to Downing Street, there will be a 40 per cent increase in the number of officers patrolling beaches in northern France which would "increase early detection". Meanwhile, the presence of UK staff in French control rooms would help in understanding the "threat" at hand.
Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, claimed the deal does not help to address the factors behind people taking the dangerous journey across the channel and will "do little to end the crossings". Instead, he called for more focus on creating "safe routes" and working with the EU and other countries to "share responsibility" for the "global challenge".
“The Government must take a more comprehensive approach and create an orderly, fair and humane asylum system that recognises that the vast majority of those taking dangerous journeys are refugees escaping for their lives,” he said.
“It needs to face up to the fact it is a global issue which will not be resolved by enforcement measures alone.”
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