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Tengrinews.kz – The UK has “lost control” of its borders over the past five years, said the country’s Defence Secretary, John Healey, citing Sky News.
Healey noted that the previous Conservative government had left the British asylum system in “chaos,” and the country is now facing “record levels of immigration,” placing a heavy burden on the new government.
On May 31, hundreds of migrants were seen crossing the English Channel. French police observed people, including children, boarding small boats in shallow waters off the beach in Gravelines, between Calais and Dunkirk.
Authorities then recorded the boats being escorted toward the UK.
"Pretty shocking, those scenes yesterday. Truth is, Britain's lost control of its borders over the last five years, and the last government last year left an asylum system in chaos and record levels of immigration," said Healey.
He emphasized that this creates serious issues, as French police are unable to intervene when boats are launched from shallow waters.
"We saw the smugglers launching elsewhere and coming around like a taxi to pick them up," the minister added.
He also stated that the UK is actively working with the French to implement new rules to prevent such situations.
"They're not doing it, but for the first time for years, we've got the level of cooperation needed to change the situation," he said.
The UK Home Office published statistics showing that France is intercepting fewer migrants trying to reach Britain, despite an agreement to allocate £480 million to stop the crossings.
It is noted that this year, French police have stopped only 38% of migrants, while 13,167 people have successfully reached the UK. Last year, France prevented 45% of crossings, and in 2023 — 47%.
