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\u201cFrench Police have a job to do and it is not to support crossings. This misuse of public resources is a grave breach of trust. Policing should prioritise safety and security for all: British citizens and migrants themselves who should not be helped to sea.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m calling for a thorough investigation and accountability for those involved.<\/p>\n
\u201cSuch actions undermine the principles of humanitarianism and the responsible allocation of taxpayer money and competence of the Home Office.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is essential that authorities on both sides take immediate steps to rectify this situation and ensure that public funds are used responsibly and for the intended purpose.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe truth must be uncovered, and those responsible held accountable because my Dudley constituents and all taxpayers will feel betrayed by a policy they never really agreed with.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dover MP Natalie Elphicke told the Daily Express: \u201cThese are very troubling findings.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cTens of millions of pounds of British taxpayers\u2019 money is going to the French authorities, there should be an inquiry to ensure it is being properly spent on stopping the boats.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen from Belgium that their aggressive interception of the boats is delivering real results on the ground. It\u2019s time the French did the same.\u201d<\/p>\n
The French are coming under increasing pressure to stop more boats after it emerged Belgium is intercepting 90 per cent of crossings.<\/p>\n
But the number of small boats from France being stopped has fallen over the past 12 months, despite Britain agreeing to pay Paris \u00a3480m in March.<\/p>\n
Tim Loughton, speaking in Parliament last week, revealed French police have stopped 45.2 per cent of crossings in the year to August, compared to 45.8 per cent the year before.<\/p>\n
Britain is paying France the huge sum of taxpayers’ money to boost patrols on French beaches, as well as extra surveillance drones and beach buggies.<\/p>\n
Some 23,000 migrants have crossed the Channel so far this year.\u00a0In total, 3,002 people have arrived in the first 10 days of September alone, with the hot weather making for ideal crossing conditions.<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> On Sunday 153 migrants had to be rescued by French authorities off the coast of Calais.<\/p>\n The French coastguard rescued two dinghies with broken engines and returned them to port.<\/p>\n The first boat was crammed with 81 people – including eight women and 10 children who were returned to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer in the early hours of the morning.<\/p>\n Tim Loughton, a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said of the Daily Express investigation: \u201cThis would go a long way to explaining why the interception rate by the French authorities has actually declined this year despite record amounts of subsidies to the French police from the British taxpayer.<\/p>\n \u201cThe French need to travel to Belgium and take a crash course in how you deal with illegal migrants effectively.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to have a proper value for money audit.\u201d<\/p>\n Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said last week that crossings from Belgium are “extremely rare” because smugglers know the vessels will be stopped and taken back to shore – unlike in France.<\/p>\n He also told MPs: \u201cWith respect to small boats leaving their shores, they\u2019ve been willing to intercept the boats in the water.<\/p>\n \u201cThat has proven decisive. And now small boat crossings are extremely rare from Belgium. So that is an approach that we would like to encourage the French to follow.<\/p>\n \u201cFrench patrol ships effectively escort migrants to British waters because they will not intervene unless the dinghy is in distress and those on board are believed likely to cooperate.<\/p>\n \u201cParis fears intercepting migrants on the Channel could increase the risk they will capsize by attempting to swerve the French authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n
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