Home Romney Marsh News Article
Hundreds more asylum seekers reach UK after crossing English Channel
10:16, 26 July 2021
updated: 18:43, 26 July 2021
More than 350 asylum seekers reached the UK after crossing the Channel on small boats yesterday.
Border Force dealt with 12 incidents involving 378 people.
A further 178 people were prevented from reaching the south coast by French authorities.
Pictures show a group of people landing on Romney Marsh yesterday lunchtime.
A witness said a small inflatable boat had been towed into Dungeness beach, and young men were seen being escorted onto a coach.
Photos show police and other vans near the RNLI lifeboat station.
It comes as a record number of people crossed the Channel on Monday last week in an attempt to reach Kent and other parts of the south east coastline.
In total, 430 people made the journey in small boats, some landing at Kingdown near Deal, and also on Romney Marsh.
Another 287 people also arrived on Tuesday.
In response, Home Secretary Priti Patel vowed yet more action, with £54 million sent to France to double the number of police on beaches.
A new bill is also being introduced which will give Border Force officers powers to turn asylum seekers away from the UK while at sea, and makes it a criminal offence to knowingly arrive in the UK without permission.
Last week, the Stade Court Hotel in Hythe was closed off to the public after the Home Office made a deal to use it for accommodation for asylum seekers.
Three security guards stood watch at the seaside hotel on Friday.
Former military camp, Napier Barracks, in Folkestone, has also been used by the Home Office to house asylum seekers since September last year.
The barracks has been rife with issues ever since, including fires, protests, arrests, demonstrations and Covid-19 outbreaks.
Home Secretary Priti Patel, said: "The British public should be in no doubt of our unwavering determination to stop these dangerous crossings from safe EU countries and take down the evil criminal gangs behind t“We are utilising all aspects of Government to tackle this issue and our significant actions are having an impact.
“French authorities have already prevented over 7,500 migrants entering the UK this year – nearly treble the number for the same period in 2020 – and earlier this week we signed a strengthened agreement to increase police patrols on French beaches, improve surveillance technology and enhance intelligence sharing.
“Since the start of 2020, we have secured more than 65 small boat related prosecutions, totalling over 53 years in jail. This is the result of extensive collaborative upstream operational work taking place with our law enforcement and intelligence partners.
“Since the start of 2020, we have secured more than 65 small boat related prosecutions, totalling over 53 years in jail..."
“This week, we also saw the landmark Nationality and Borders Bill proceed through Parliament, which will reform the system to make people think again before attempting to enter this country illegally and break the business model of people smugglers.”
Nazek Ramadan, director of charity, Migrant Voice, said: “The UK government must do more and invest the millions it spends on border security each year into creating safe and legal routes for those fleeing persecution.
“Spending tens of millions on border security in France, for example, will not stop people from fleeing persecution. And it will not stop people from wanting to join family members in the UK.
“The government’s use of the Nationality and Borders Bill to ‘fix’ the UK’s asylum system is also wrong. It constitutes a second persecution of people who have already fled persecution. Again, it won’t stop people from making treacherous and potentially fatal journeys across the Channel to the UK, which is often to be reunited with those that they love.
“The UK takes in significantly fewer people seeking asylum than many of its nearest neighbours, including France and Germany.
“Spending tens of millions on border security in France, for example, will not stop people from fleeing persecution..."
“Meanwhile, developing countries are currently hosting 86% of the world’s displaced people.
“Stopping people from making these dangerous journeys across the Channel requires a completely different approach, including creating safe and legal routes.”
