British immigration officials have warned migrants in northern France they are being lied to by people smugglers promising them a better life in the UK.<\/p>\n
Their intervention comes at a time when the number of migrant crossings has been increasing, partly because of camps being cleared.<\/p>\n
There was another clearance on Tuesday, when almost a thousand migrants were removed from a gym in a Dunkirk suburb.<\/p>\n
Invited by the French authorities, the British officials' work in France includes \"countering the misinformation being spread by other sources, including organised crime groups\", the Home Office said.<\/p>\n
Migrants are being warned that people smugglers are not telling the truth about the journey, or about what awaits them if they make it to Britain.<\/p>\n
The Home Office said it was determined to stop \"this reckless and illegal activity by stopping boats from leaving French shores\".<\/p>\n
Those removed from a gym in the Dunkirk suburb of Grande Synthe included several families with young children, the charity Care4Calais said.<\/p>\n
Another charity, Help Refugees, said about 250 children were there, 150 of who were unaccompanied.<\/p>\n
\"These evictions are about political bravado rather than humanitarian concerns,\" said Maddy Allen, the charity's field manager for the area.<\/p>\n
More than 200 police officers escorted aid workers from the site early on Tuesday, before coaches arrived and migrants were escorted on to them.<\/p>\n
They are being taken to temporary shelters and will be allowed to apply for asylum.<\/p>\n
According to French police, the evacuation followed concerns over security and hygiene.<\/p>\n
But Care4Calais said it had been pointless because many of those evicted would soon be back in Dunkirk and Calais in their quest to reach the UK.<\/p>\n
\"Continual forced evictions don't affect the underlying issues that cause people to risk their lives crossing the Channel,\" said founder Clare Moseley.<\/p>\n
\"The men, women and children that we talk to every day do not want to take these risks; all they want is for their asylum claims to be heard.\"<\/p>\n
Immigration minister Seema Kennedy said: \"People thinking about making the perilous journey across the English Channel in a small boat are taking a huge risk with their lives and the lives of their children.\"<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, 29 arrests have been made as part of an investigation into a large migrant smuggling network, Europol said.<\/p>\n
Last week, the National Crime Agency arrested six British men suspected of smuggling migrants.<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, the Ocean Viking aid ship has picked up 61 people from a plastic boat off the coast of Libya.<\/p>\n
At least two people have died and 14 are missing after a boat filled with migrants hoping to reach Europe capsized off the coast of Tunisia.<\/p>\n
And Malta has refused to accept 90 migrants rescued by an Italian Coast Guard vessel.<\/p>\n
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Read more: <\/p>\n
UK officials tell migrants in France: You are being lied to by people smugglers - Sky News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" British immigration officials have warned migrants in northern France they are being lied to by people smugglers promising them a better life in the UK. Their intervention comes at a time when the number of migrant crossings has been increasing, partly because of camps being cleared. There was another clearance on Tuesday, when almost a thousand migrants were removed from a gym in a Dunkirk suburb. Continue reading