The deal aims to stop people from illegally crossing the English Channel through more joint efforts
A new deal that aims to reduce the number of people illegally crossing the English Channel has been signed between the UK and France. The interior ministers of both countries met in Paris on Monday, November 14, to finally push forward a deal that had been pending for months, according to the BBC.
According to the deal signed between British Home Secretary Suella Braverman and the French counterpart, Gérald Darmanin, the UK government will pay more France now to cover of increase patrols. The cost has increased from £55m last year to £63m this year, due to several new updates that have been agreed upon by both sides.
The deal, the report states, includes embedding British police officers with their French counter in control rooms as well as on beaches. The number of officers and patrols have also been increased. Extra funding will be used for drones and night vision equipment. Money will also be spent on French ports where more CCTV cameras will be installed. Plans are to also increase the number of dog detection teams to prevent illegal entry through lorries into the UK. Aside from this, over 300 officers will now be patrolling the French coast to stop people from leaving their cost illegally.
The deal is taking place after the government faced weeks of criticism, due to a migrant processing site, in Manston, Kent (UK), which was found to be severely overcrowded. According to the report, all captured migrants who cross the English Channel in small boats to reach the UK beaches are transferred to Manston Airport. The refugees then undergo security and identity checks. After this, the airport site serves as a temporary site to stay and while their applications are processed, the refugees are moved into asylum accommodation. But last month, reports emerged of over 4000 people staying at the Manston Airport site, which was only meant for 1600.
According to the most recent official numbers, over 103,000 asylum petitions were waiting judgement for the year to the end of June 2022, the report states. Another report from the Refugee Council Freedom of Information request, states that over 40,000 people who have previously filed for asylum, have been waiting for a decision from one to three years.
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