My job is to end illegal Channel crossings — and that’s what I will do
SUN on Sunday readers are understandably shocked and dismayed by the record number of migrants arriving into the UK on small boats throughout the summer.
This is an unacceptable situation and illegal migration is and has been a complex problem for many years.
For decades, many have risked their lives to enter our country through clandestine means.
Many of you will remember the horror stories of people hiding in lorries trying to come here through the Channel Tunnel.
We know this rise in arrivals by small boat is largely down not just to good weather, but also other routes into the country being closed.
The pandemic means fewer people can enter the UK on planes or in the backs of wagons, leaving small boats as an incredibly dangerous last resort for reaching the UK.
And just a few weeks ago a 28-year-old man died trying to make the dangerous crossing.
His body washed up on a French beach, a stark reminder of the desperate risks being taken every day in the busiest shipping lane in the world.
It is a fact that the majority of these crossings are facilitated by criminals making money exploiting migrants desperate to come to our country.
Be in no doubt that they are ruthless monsters selling desperate people a false dream that the UK is paved with gold compared to France and many of the other European countries these migrants have travelled through.
This is a lie.
France, along with other EU countries have fully functioning asylum systems.
Since I began my new role, I’ve been out on the Channel with Border Force patrols and seen the conditions first hand.
I have witnessed overloaded boats full of men, women and children taking unbelievable risks.
My team and others are working day and night to put an end to this.
We are disrupting criminal networks. We are arresting those responsible and putting them behind bars.
And we are sharing intelligence with the French authorities so they can take action against these criminals on their side of the Channel too.
UNTHINKABLE TRAGEDY
A few weeks ago we locked up the head of a criminal gang who had trafficked nine people — including two children — across this dangerous route.
We will continue to go after and lock up these ruthless thugs, and many more people are due in court in the coming weeks.
I have travelled to France four times in the past month, meeting French law enforcement officials to develop our joint plans to tackle this together.
They are committed to joint working and so far this year the French have stopped 3,000 people from making the crossing.
But this alone will not shut this route down.
This is a complex problem that requires interventions at every stage and innovative thinking, including using automatic number plate recognition, surveillance and aerial support to stop the boats leaving French shores in the first place.
We have already made several offers to the French. We have paid for drones and night-vision equipment.
No one wants to see another life lost. Let’s not forget that France is a safe country and people should claim asylum in the first safe country they enter.
I also cannot stress enough that for those who need our help and protection, there are safe and legal routes in place.
The UK resettles more refugees than any other country in Europe.
Since September 2015 we have resettled more than 25,000 vulnerable refugees from around the world, with around half being children.
Throughout my career in law enforcement and in the Royal Marines I have fought against adversaries in high-risk environments, on the land and at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
The task ahead of me is as grave and important as any I have faced — every day this route remains open we risk unthinkable tragedy.
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We are working across the entire Government system to come up with new tactics, new approaches, policy, legislation, whatever it takes to end this route and the ever-growing problem of illegal migration.
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When I was appointed the Clandestine Channel Threat Commander by Home Secretary Priti Patel, she was clear that I had one job: To close down this route.
And that is exactly what I intend to do.
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