French officials have been urged to take a tougher stance on migrants, after a record week of Channel crossings.<\/p>\n
Some 96 people were intercepted in the Channel on Friday - a day after a record 202 migrants made the journey.<\/p>\n
The previous daily record for migrant crossings was on 13 July, when 180 successfully landed in the UK.<\/p>\n
Immigration compliance minister Chris Philp wants France to be stronger at stopping the boats at sea and directing them back to the shore before they reach the Kent coast.<\/p>\n
French authorities have stopped thousands of crossings this year, the government acknowledged, before adding that more could be done.<\/p>\n
Mr Philp said: \"The number of illegal small boat crossings we are seeing from France is unacceptably high.<\/p>\n
\"And migrants continue to arrive in Calais to make the crossing.<\/p>\n
\"The French have to take tougher action.<\/p>\n
\"We need stronger enforcement measures, including interceptions at sea and direct return of boats.<\/p>\n
\"The French have heard that directly from the home secretary and we will continue to work with them until the situation changes.<\/p>\n
\"We will also continue to go after the criminals who facilitate these crossings and return the migrants who come to the UK in this way.\"<\/p>\n
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In July, more than 1,000 migrants managed to cross into the UK, according to analysis by the PA news agency.<\/p>\n
The Home Office launched an attack on \"activist lawyers\" on Friday, who it claims are thwarting efforts to send migrants back to France.<\/p>\n
It referred to \"vexatious\" claims that are stopping the government and its attempts to remove the migrants from the UK; however, it would not reveal how many migrants remained in the country.<\/p>\n
Human rights charities branded the comments as \"bully boy tactics\".<\/p>\n
Minnie Rahman, public affairs and campaigns manager at the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, said: \"Those being forced to make desperate journeys across the Channel are doing so because they simply have no other options and become reliant on those willing to exploit them.\"<\/p>\n
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Migrant crossings 'unacceptably high' as UK asks France to be tougher - Sky News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" French officials have been urged to take a tougher stance on migrants, after a record week of Channel crossings. Some 96 people were intercepted in the Channel on Friday - a day after a record 202 migrants made the journey. The previous daily record for migrant crossings was on 13 July, when 180 successfully landed in the UK. Continue reading