The number of failed attempts by illegally migrants to enter Britain via European ports and the channel tunnel more that tripled in the past twelve months, Home Office figures have revealed.
The numbers rose sharply from 4,000 a month in 2014, to more than 13,000 in July 2015, according to figures released the Economist following a Freedom of Information Request.
Since 2012, the figures have multiplied by a staggering 12 times. Attempts detected by authorities between 2008-12 were recorded at just 1,000 a month in 2008-12, rising to 2,000 in late 2013.
Europe’s migrant crisis was brought to Britain in June last year, when vast numbers of migrants began attempting to enter the UK from Calais. Illegal stowaways, lorry jacking and even violent break-ins have become commonplace since.
A French riot police officer (CRS) pushes back a man as illegal migrants wait to attempt to hide in lorries heading for England, in the French northern harbour of Calais, on June 17, 2015. (Getty)
The immigration minister, James Brokenshire claimed on Tuesday night that the UK government was continuing to work closely with the French authorities “to respond to the challenges of illegal migration at the UK border”.
He told the Guardian: “The UK government has invested tens of millions of pounds to bolster security at the ports in northern France and the Border Force has doubled its contracted freight searching and sniffer dog capacity.
“In addition, critical new security infrastructure is in place at Calais and Coquelles, along with hundreds of new French police officers, Border Force officers and security guards, co-ordinated from a new joint command and control centre in Calais involving law enforcement staff from both countries.”
French authorities recently moved in to clear the sprawling shantytown otherwise known as the ‘Jungle’ in northern France, in a desperate attempt to solve the rapidly escalating problem.
A French judge approved plans to evict hundreds of migrants and demolish the southern side of the camp on the 25th of February. The northern side, meanwhile, containing shops, a mosque, and the new permanent accommodation built by the authorities will remain.
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