Hundreds of migrants took advantage of the wildcat strikes, prising open the doors of UK-bound lorries stuck in queues at the entrances to the port and the Channel tunnel and jumping aboard following the suspension of both services. More than 3,000 people, predominantly from Africa and the Middle East, are currently estimated to be living rough around Calais, waiting for a chance to cross into the UK.
The latest run on British borders prompted James Brokenshire, UK Minister of State for Security and Immigration, to announce more resources for screening arrivals at Dover, as well as a new task force created to tackle organised immigration crime in the Mediterranean.
The 90-strong law enforcement team will include staff from the Border Force, the National Crime Agency, Immigration Enforcement and the Crown Prosecution Service.
“We now need to think beyond the scenes in northern France and take a more ‘upstream’ approach, and get the best possible intelligence as to the state of play in wider Europe and beyond,” said Mr Brokenshire.
“We need to ensure we have sufficient information about these criminal rings, and take action by tackling money flows and identifying vessels being used in order to secure prosecutions.”
Mr Brokenshire added that the government had provided increased funding to the French authorities to help improve the security infrastructure around Calais.
He called for France to alleviate the situation, calling it “hugely regrettable”, but that it was ultimately the responsibility of the French authorities to tackle the crisis. Last year, the UK government pledged £12m to help France address the problem of illegal immigrants trying to enter Britain through the port.
“We have been working closely with the French government for some time, but policing issues on French soil are for the French. They have said they will do the job,” he said.
Latest Home Office figures reveal that in the first six months of 2015, more than 19,000 illegal attempts to cross the channel were prevented, double the number of illegal attempts to cross in the same period last year.
Both Eurotunnel and Eurostar are expecting normal services to resume on Wednesday.
Ferry services have also resumed, while roads to the Kent coast have reopened after being closed to avoid further gridlock. But hundreds of British motorists remain stranded in Calais, and Eurostar added that all services from London on Wednesday are now full and rebookings are being made for Thursday.
Port workers have threatened continuing disruption, with the head of the main union suggesting more industrial action was likely this summer. “If you want to have a hot summer, come to Calais,” Eric Vercoutre of Syndicat Maritime Nord told Le Parisien.
More about:
