New pictures have been taken of illegal migrants brazenly attempting to break into lorries and make a clandestine crossing from France to the UK.
The images were shot on Wednesday, days after a lorry containing more than 30 illegal migrants was stopped in Portsmouth, on the south coast of England.
They were taken in the French fishing village of Ouistreham, a popular location for holidaymakers and an important port.
Every day, hundreds of mostly African migrants are trying to make an illegal crossing from the town to the UK, police said.
Migrants try to board a truck at Ouistreham ferry port in the hope of reaching the UK on September 12, 2018 in Ouistreham, France. (Christopher Furlong/Getty)
Many of the migrants are not arrested or charged, despite the fact a French citizen would almost certainly be taken into custody if caught trying to break into a vehicle.
There are between 200 and 300 mostly young men in the town, a number which increased significantly after the infamous Calais ‘Jungle’ camp was cleared in 2016.
They are often removed from several lorries a day, making numerous attempts to break and enter with little legal consequences.
Ferry Normandie of Brittany Ferries, arrives at Ouistreham ferry port on on September 12, 2018 in Ouistreham, France. (Christopher Furlong/Getty)
A migrants looks under a van for somewhere to hide at Ouistreham ferry port in the hope of reaching the UK as stowaways on vehicles on September 12, 2018 in Ouistreham, France. (Christopher Furlong/Getty)
Speaking to The Sun, one migrant said: “I have two children, six and seven. I want to get to England to get a job, or study, I want a new life.”
Another 22-year-old, who did not want to be named, added: “I’ve heard some have got into trucks. I think there is a chance.”
Frederic Aubanel, a police general, told the paper up to 200 migrants a day would attempt to breach lorries.
Migrants try to board a truck at Ouistreham ferry port in the hope of reaching the UK on September 12, 2018 in Ouistreham, France. (Christopher Furlong/Getty)
He said: “There are 150 to 200 migrants or between 100 and 150 – it depends on the time of year – who try, no matter what the cost, to get into the port, to get to the UK.
“It’s every day – it’s every day we have people who get into the lorries.”
He explained that it is creating a sense of “panic” among lorry drivers who rely on the port for their livelihood.
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