, Labour's Shadow
Immigration Minister, responding to news that 338 people
crossed the Channel on Tuesday, making a total of 1,115 in the
last seven days, the busiest week yet for arrivals in the busiest
start to a year on record, almost a quarter higher than the same
point in 2023, said:
"Despite all the evidence to the contrary, keeps on telling the British
people that small boat arrivals are coming down and his promise
to stop the boats remains on track.
“Can he not see what is happening from inside his No.10 bunker,
or does he think we can't see it for ourselves?
"Either way, it's time to get a grip and restore order to the
border. Labour will strengthen our border security, crush the
smuggling gangs, clear the asylum backlog, end hotel use, and set
up a new returns and enforcement unit so those with no right to
be in the UK are swiftly returned. That is the plan we need."
Ends
Notes:
Key facts to note on the latest figures:
- The total of 1,115 arrivals in the last seven days represents
the busiest week of what is still – after almost three months –
the busiest start to a year on record for Channel
crossings.
- The total number of arrivals this year stands at 4,644
as of 26 March, 23 per cent higher than the same period in 2023
(3,770) and 12 per cent higher than the previous record year in
2022 (4,162).
- The picture so far this year is even worse when we take into
account the number of people who have been rescued by the French
authorities on their side of the Channel after small boats got
into difficulty early in their journey.
- As of 26 March 2024, 1,062 people have been taken back to the
French coast after attempting to cross the Channel, compared to
679 over the same period in 2023 and 847 in 2022. In 2023, the
number of people rescued on the French side did not hit the 1,000
mark until 7 May and in 2022, that milestone was not reached
until 13 April.
- Figures for rescues on the English side of the Channel can be
found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/migrants-detected-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats
- Figures for rescues on the French side of the Channel can be
found here:
https://www.premar-manche.gouv.fr/
Labour’s five-point plan to reform the asylum
system:
-
Crackdown on criminal smuggler gangs, through new
Cross-Border Police Unit and deeper security cooperation with
Europe
A Labour Government would crackdown on criminal smuggler gangs by
introducing stronger powers for the UK’s National Crime Agency to
restrict the movement of those suspected of being involved in
people smuggling and setting up a new cross-border police unit
with officers based in the UK and across Europe to tackle gangs
upstream.
That would include officers being posted directly to Europol to
collaborate on joint investigations and to identify and seize
boats upstream. Labour will also seek to negotiate a new security
agreement with Europe, including a replacement to SIS-II, to
allow for the real-time sharing of intelligence on people
smuggling suspects. To fund this, Labour would redirect spending
from the unworkable Rwanda scheme, which the government has
admitted is subject to a very high risk of fraud.
-
End hotel use, clear the Tory asylum backlog, and speed
up returns to safe countries
Labour will save the taxpayer billions by ending the use of
hotels for asylum seekers within 12 months and setting up a new
returns unit for safe countries. Labour will recruit over 1,000
Home Office caseworkers to clear the record Tory asylum backlog,
and a further 1,000 staff for a new returns unit so that those
who do not have a right to stay here can be quickly removed, and
we end the use of costly hotels at the taxpayers’ expense. Labour
will fast track decisions on applications from safe countries,
like India and Albania, which are unlikely to be granted; and
establish a new returns unit to reverse the 44% collapse in
asylum removals that the Tory Government has overseen since 2010.
-
Reform resettlement routes to stop people being
exploited by gangs
Labour would redesign the existing resettlement schemes which are
not currently working properly so that they include a clearer
process for refugees with family connections in the UK to be
considered for resettlement, preventing them being exploited by
criminal gangs or making dangerous journeys.
-
New agreement with France and other countries on
returns and family reunion
Labour would negotiate a new agreement which includes safe
returns and safe family reunions for child refugees.
-
Tackle humanitarian crises at source helping refugees
in their region
Labour would work in partnership internationally to address some
of the humanitarian crises that are leading people to flee their
homes including restoring the 0.7% aid commitment when the fiscal
situation allows and strengthening support for the people of
Afghanistan, currently the largest group trying to cross the
Channel.
