The tragic discovery of 39 dead people in a lorry container on Wednesday graphically illustrates the risks that migrants take in seeking to find a new life in the UK and the ruthless role of organised crime in pursuit of profit.
The immigration controls and checks in Calais have become more effective over past years through security investment at the port and technology. The immigration authorities at Calais have specialised detector dogs, CO2 devices, X-ray machines for lorries and heartbeat detectors, and vehicles have to wait in the quay side for some time before boarding the boat. Whilst it is still a favoured and low-cost route for migrants, the success rate is low with many attempts usually required before successfully securing safe passage. The French also now regularly move the migrants camping in Calais.
The successful efforts at Calais have driven organised crime groups to develop other options for routes to the UK. This has seen the recent growth in channel crossings by small crafts which is a far more hazardous route, with some fatalities but where success is practically guaranteed, as even if their vessel is intercepted in the Channel the migrants are invariably taken to an English port, where asylum is claimed and very few are ever removed from the UK.
It has also seen them look to alternative ports from which to smuggle migrants – like Zeebrugge. It is a freight and container port which isn’t as geared up to detect migrants. It’s organised crime finding a route that is guaranteed success and where you can charge premium rates.
The discovery at the Waterglade Industrial Park raises the question as to whether this has been a regular but underestimated route by the authorities.
The deceased will not be carrying identity documentation making identification by the police very difficult. The role of organised crime will invariably lurk in the background, with crime groups managing all aspects of the migrant journey for considerable profit. Different packages are offered for the final stage of the journey to the UK, from providing opportunities to gain access to lorries in order to attempt the Calais route, a place on a small craft crossing the Channel, providing forged or genuine passports for sea or air crossing and potentially other routes such as via Zeebrugge.
The criminals make vast profits, with no conscience or care regarding the ultimate outcome for the migrant. The migrants who take these routes are those who cannot secure legitimate entry to the UK via the visa system and thus pose an immigration or security threat to the UK.
Austerity has resulted in reduced border resources over recent years including the number of Border Force cutters deployed. Publicity regarding vessels crossing the English Channel has pushed the issue high up the political agenda, thus attracting the main immigration border focus.
This tragic event raises the question concerning other ports in the UK also being used as a route for illegal migration, and whether there has been misplaced complacency. The organised crime groups operate across all international borders but tend not to be the priority for law enforcement in European countries.
David Wood is a former director general of immigration enforcement
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Home » Analysis & Comment » David Wood: 'Fight to stop the tragedy of people smuggling must get more priority'
David Wood: 'Fight to stop the tragedy of people smuggling must get more priority'
The tragic discovery of 39 dead people in a lorry container on Wednesday graphically illustrates the risks that migrants take in seeking to find a new life in the UK and the ruthless role of organised crime in pursuit of profit.
The immigration controls and checks in Calais have become more effective over past years through security investment at the port and technology. The immigration authorities at Calais have specialised detector dogs, CO2 devices, X-ray machines for lorries and heartbeat detectors, and vehicles have to wait in the quay side for some time before boarding the boat. Whilst it is still a favoured and low-cost route for migrants, the success rate is low with many attempts usually required before successfully securing safe passage. The French also now regularly move the migrants camping in Calais.
The successful efforts at Calais have driven organised crime groups to develop other options for routes to the UK. This has seen the recent growth in channel crossings by small crafts which is a far more hazardous route, with some fatalities but where success is practically guaranteed, as even if their vessel is intercepted in the Channel the migrants are invariably taken to an English port, where asylum is claimed and very few are ever removed from the UK.
It has also seen them look to alternative ports from which to smuggle migrants – like Zeebrugge. It is a freight and container port which isn’t as geared up to detect migrants. It’s organised crime finding a route that is guaranteed success and where you can charge premium rates.
The discovery at the Waterglade Industrial Park raises the question as to whether this has been a regular but underestimated route by the authorities.
The deceased will not be carrying identity documentation making identification by the police very difficult. The role of organised crime will invariably lurk in the background, with crime groups managing all aspects of the migrant journey for considerable profit. Different packages are offered for the final stage of the journey to the UK, from providing opportunities to gain access to lorries in order to attempt the Calais route, a place on a small craft crossing the Channel, providing forged or genuine passports for sea or air crossing and potentially other routes such as via Zeebrugge.
The criminals make vast profits, with no conscience or care regarding the ultimate outcome for the migrant. The migrants who take these routes are those who cannot secure legitimate entry to the UK via the visa system and thus pose an immigration or security threat to the UK.
Austerity has resulted in reduced border resources over recent years including the number of Border Force cutters deployed. Publicity regarding vessels crossing the English Channel has pushed the issue high up the political agenda, thus attracting the main immigration border focus.
This tragic event raises the question concerning other ports in the UK also being used as a route for illegal migration, and whether there has been misplaced complacency. The organised crime groups operate across all international borders but tend not to be the priority for law enforcement in European countries.
David Wood is a former director general of immigration enforcement
Source: Read Full Article