Theresa May yesterday chaired an emergency Cobra meeting about the migrant crisis
DAVID Cameron has responded to the ongoing crisis in Calais by warning the "swarm" of migrants in northern France that Britain was no "safe haven".
Last night, hundreds of migrants - some looking as young as 13 or 14 - gathered for a third night along the fence to the freight terminal in Coquelles as the crisis intensified.
That follows around 2,000 storming the Channel Tunnel earlier this week in a bid to get into the UK.
The Prime Minister, speaking from Vietnam, insisted the border with France was secure but admitted the threat was real.
Hundreds of migrants run as authorities attempt to keep control
He said: "This is very testing, I accept that, because you have got a swarm of people coming across the Mediterranean, seeking a better life, wanting to come to Britain because Britain has got jobs, it's got a growing economy, it's an incredible place to live.
"But we need to protect our borders by working hand in glove with our neighbours the French and that is exactly what we are doing."
A migrant climbs a security fence of a Eurotunnel terminal in Coquelles near Calais
He added moves would be made to deport more people who arrive in the UK illegally.
He said: "We will remove more illegal migrants from our country so people know it's not a safe haven once you're there."
But the Prime Minister was criticised for his terminology.
Authorities try to keep control of the situation
Migrants crush fences to get onto trains headed for Britain
Cameron calling Calais migrants a "swarm" is nothing short of disgraceful. Confirms there's no dog-whistle these Bullingdon Boys won't blow.
Labour leadership candidate Andy Burnham was swift to condemn the remark with a statement on Twitter: "Cameron calling Calais migrants a 'swarm' is nothing short of disgraceful. Confirms there's no dog-whistle these Bullingdon Boys won't blow."Former Lib Dem MP and employment minister Jo Swinson said on Twitter: "Words matter. It's irresponsible & dehumanising to refer to a 'swarm': they're people, many in desperate state."The Refugee Council described Mr Cameron's remark as "awful, dehumanising language from a world leader".Ukip leader Nigel Farage also said it was not a would he would use.Asked whether he would described the migrants as a "swarm" he responded: “No. I’m not seeking to use language like that.”However, it was also revealed Mr Farage had used the same word hours before, when describing migrants trying to get into his car.He told Good Morning Britain: "A couple of times I’ve been stuck on the motorway and surrounded by swarms of potential migrants to Britain and once, even, they tried the back door of the car to see whether they could get in."
Cameron calling Calais migrants a "swarm" is nothing short of disgraceful. Confirms there's no dog-whistle these Bullingdon Boys won't blow.
The row in Britain follows latest news footage from Calais showing some as young as 15 climbing through holes in the wire and using clothes to help them jump over fences.When French police arrived in riot vans some of the migrants were rounded up while three or four made a dash towards parked lorries.Raihan Jan, 24, a clerk from eastern Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, said that he had travelled first to Iran, then on to Turkey, Greece and Italy before arriving in Calais four days ago.He said: "We heard that one guy died last night and we know it's very dangerous, but there is not another way to go the UK."This is the last chance that we have. We think that the economy is a little bit better in the UK so we will get a chance to have documents and some work."Life in our villages is very difficult, we can't live there. I lost an uncle and we lost all our property and home in the war, everything was destroyed."I heard that it is also difficult there in the UK but we will try. We are going to try again tonight because last night there were no trains."The escalating migrant crisis in Calais has prompted urgent calls for soldiers to be brought in to put an end to the chaos which is causing misery for millions of travellers.As two more migrants died and a further 1,500 once again attempted to storm Eurotunnel trains in the chaotic port, officials on both sides of the channel bickered over how to sort out the mess.The ferry terminal and tunnel entrance is now under nightly siege as some 5,000 migrants in a nearby camp dubbed “The Jungle” attempt to illegally make their way to the UK.The crisis has caused travel chaos on both sides of the Channel, with motorists reporting long queues to get into terminals.Both British and French governments have pledged to increase co-operation and bolster security, with 120 additional French police officers deployed to try to stem the tide of refugees.But the latest breaches caused lengthy delays of up to three hours for passengers travelling from Eurotunnel's UK terminal in the early hours, the operator said.The firm added it had suspended ticket sales for those who had not made a reservation.Now politicians and those representing British hauliers - currently losing £750,000 a day because of the chaos - have said enough is enough and it is time for military action.Ukip leader Nigel Farage led those calling for the British army to be drafted in to help search vehicles coming into the UK for illegal immigrants.In addition, hauliers said the French military should also be called in to Calais to protect the lives of drivers which were increasingly in danger.Mr Farage said: “In all civil emergencies like this we have an army, we have a bit of a TA and we have a very, very overburdened police force and border agency.“If in a crisis to make sure we’ve actually got the manpower to check lorries coming in to stop people illegally coming to Britain if in those circumstances we can use the army or other forces then why not.”Former Shadow Home Secretary Ann Widdecombe agreed that the army could be deployed at UK borders, but stressed that the situation in Calais itself could only be the responsibility of the French.She said: “There is an argument for the army getting involved, but there then has to be a clear policy of what to do with the migrants when they are found - and in my opinion they should be sent straight back to Calais.
Fences crushed by desperate migrants
“Calais is the French’s responsibility - we haven’t had control of Calais since the reign of Queen Mary. The migrants are in a safe country and the French must uphold the law in their own country.”Eurotunnel earlier revealed that since the beginning of the year it has blocked 37,000 migrants trying to make their way to Britain and that in the last month nine people have died trying to cross the Channel.It is thought that up to 148 people made it to the UK after Monday's incursion.So far Home Secretary Theresa May has refused to be drawn on calls for military involvement, saying the priority was to install security fencing.Kevin Hurley, the police and crime commissioner for Surrey, called for Gurkha soldiers based at Shorncliffe barracks in Folkestone to be deployed to protect Britain’s border.
Migrants wait for their moment to cross the border
He said: “I am increasingly frustrated by the huge numbers of illegal migrants who jump out of the backs of lorries at the first truck stop - Cobham Services in Surrey - and disappear into our countryside. There were 100 in the last month alone.”In addition to the calls for the British army to be drafted at UK borders, there were also calls for the French to use their own military in the chaotic port of Calais itself.The Road Haulage Association (RHA) warned that the lives of lorry drivers were now in danger because French police were simply no longer able to cope.The RHA’s chief executive, Richard Burnett, said: “It has become clear that the French authorities in Calais simply cannot cope. This has become an untenable situation and is obviously now beyond the capabilities of the French police.
Migrants try to break into trucks every day in Calais
The RHA strongly repeats its request, made in June, for deployment of the French military to contain, segregate and control the migrant threat.“We need to see help on a giant scale. We think it’s a resources issue. The police resources are obviously limited and the military will have greater resources.”He added: “For the thousands of British drivers whose lives are now being put at risk on a regular basis, a quick and effective solution to the current situation must be found.“The news that yet more lives have been lost in such tragic circumstances underlines the desperation of the Calais migrants.”And Mr Burnett stressed that the UK Government must also play its part.“Lives of migrants and HGV drivers are being put at risk,” he said.“The Government has a duty of care to all British citizens - let that care be shown to the UK hauliers who ask no more than to be able to perform their job of moving the UK economy safely and securely.”A spokesman for Groupe Eurotunnel, which manages and operates the Channel Tunnel, said it had spent 13 million euro (9.2 million) in the first six months of 2015, in physical resources - fences, cameras, infra-red detectors - and 200 personnel and sniffer dogs.He said: “This is an issue that is a really for the Government to sort out.
We need them to stop the migrant flow from Calais but it appears to be too much for them to handle. It is an almost nightly occurrence - we’re trying to run a travel business here.”Britain has agreed to spend an extra £7million to tackle the Calais migrant crisis amid criticism of its handling of the tunnel invasions.Asked why British taxpayers should be paying for a problem taking place on French soil, she said: “We have juxtaposed controls at the border.
Migrants climb under and over fences to get into Britain
We work together on dealing with this particular problem.”Last night, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said two mobile units, or 120 additional police staff, will be “temporarily deployed in Calais in order to contribute to the security of the site”.Natacha Bouchart, mayor of Calais, has called for a summit involving ministers from France and Britain, Eurotunnel, the ports, and the municipality of Calais.Speaking on radio station France Info, she said: “It’s simply a global hypocrisy that doesn’t want to tackle the problems and the consequences of a decision of a European country that has different rules and which therefore must accept to change and to find acceptable solutions for all.”Ms Bouchart previously said Britain was “attracting” migrants as it had a “much more favourable” benefits system.The Home Office said 1.2 miles of fencing will secure each side of the platform at Coquelles.
Migrants walk on a railway line in Calais
It is being supplied from the security fencing used at a Nato summit in Newport last year and will be in place by the end of the month.Meanwhile one man who did not want to give his name said that 13 people had died after the boat he had boarded to cross from Libya had capsized.Several Africans claimed that they had been attacked by what they described as French "fascists" since arriving in Calais.At around 1.30pm police mounted a sweep to push the migrants back from the road next to the fence, forcing some to return to their camp, known as the Jungle.Others lay down by the roadside, watching as lorries went under a flyover beneath them.Mohammad Al-Mohammad, 26, from Aleppo, Syria, said he graduated in English literature from the city's university before the civil war left it in ruins.Speaking good English, he said that he wanted to carry on studying for a masters degree in the UK, where he claimed his brother was living.
Lorry drivers faced hours of delays after Operation Stack was put into force on the M20 in Kent
He said he had walked and hitchhiked from a refugee camp in Turkey, through Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, Austria and Italy before arriving in France three months ago.He said: "I have tried maybe nine or 10 times to get to the tunnel but I have failed."I have come here for many reasons. The Syrian regime wanted me for military service."I graduated from the University of Aleppo after three years and Isis wanted me to teach the kids (to be) jihadists and I refused."When I graduated there was no work because of the war and in the area where I live there is no electricity, no internet, there is nothing because the war has destroyed everything."I am seeking peace in the United Kingdom and my brother is there. I ask the United Kingdom authorities to help me to go to him."
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