UK: rising Channel migrants a 'major incident'

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Europe

The growing number of migrants attempting to cross the Channel in small boats has been declared a "major incident" by British interior minister Sajid Javid.

It comes after more than 200 migrants have attempted to cross the Channel to England since early November.

Javid is seeking an urgent call with his French counterpart over the weekend.

Nearly 70 people have been intercepted in the past three days and 12 people were detained off the coast of Dover on Friday morning.

Officials from both sides have warned that it is dangerous to cross the world's busiest shipping lane by small boat.

Javid's ministry said in a statement that he wants to ensure everything possible is being done to deter migrants from attempting the dangerous crossing, “amid concern that it is only a matter of time before people lose their lives.”

Javid will now receive daily updates from his ministry, and has spoken to Border Force officials, Immigration Enforcement and the National Crime Agency in a conference call.

Local media reported that people smugglers told migrants they must enter before "the borders shut properly" after Brexit. Both British and French authorities said the rise in crossings is the result of "organized criminality" and "mafia networks."

The Member of Parliament for Dover on England's southeast coast, Charlie Elphicke, has called for more government funding to deal with the arrivals and the Home Office said Javid has asked border officials to look at options for bringing in extra patrol ships.

Many of the migrants are from Iran and Syria, and Iranian citizens have made more UK asylum applications than any other nationalities, according to UK Home Office figures.

(With inputs from agencies)

(Cover photo: Britain's Home Secretary Sajid Javid attends the weekly meeting of the Cabinet at 10 Downing Street, London, December 18, 2018. /VCG Photo )