AS hundreds again gathered last night at the Channel Tunnel freight terminal at Calais, David Cameron insisted Britain would not become a “safe haven” for those desperate to make the crossing.
After the disruption this week, an extra 120 French police have been sent to Calais and the UK has pressed the French government to finish reinforcing fencing along the road at the entrance to the tunnel. The UK has pledged £12 million on Calais security over the next three years with an extra £7m set aside for the new fencing, which is now being erected.
“Everything that can be done will be done to make sure our borders are secure and make sure that British holidaymakers are able to go on their holidays,” said Cameron.
The UK Prime Minister has already come under fire for using “dehumanising” language about the thousands of people at the makeshift camp at Calais, many of whom are fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria and Afghanistan and trying to reach Britain through the Eurotunnel from the French port.
Cameron said the chaos at Calais was “very testing” because there was a “swarm of people coming across the Mediterranean, seeking a better life”.
His comments were immediately denounced by refugee agencies.
“Talking about a swarm conjures up images of insects,” said Zoe Gardner of Asylum Aid. “Language like that is not helpful at all as it is designed to scare people. It’s a cowardly approach to play on people’s fears when we do have the capability to help those fleeing persecution and war.”
Refugee Council head of advocacy Dr Lisa Doyle said: “It’s extremely disappointing to hear the prime minister using such irresponsible, dehumanising language to describe the desperate men, women and children fleeing for their lives across the Mediterranean Sea. This sort of rhetoric is extremely inflammatory and comes at a time when the Government should be focused on working with its European counterparts to respond calmly and compassionately to this dreadful humanitarian crisis.
“It’s easy to see why people are alarmed by the pictures they’re seeing and the reports they’re reading; it’s utterly heartbreaking to hear of people losing their lives. That’s why it’s so important that the prime minister shows real leadership by ensuring he uses responsible, careful language and doesn’t feed into people’s fears by misrepresenting the situation.
“Britain has a proud tradition of protecting refugees. It’s important that tradition is safeguarded in times of crisis.”
Cameron’s comments were made following 3,500 attempts to breach Eurotunnel security in the past week alone. One man was crushed by a lorry during the chaos on Tuesday night – the ninth migrant to have been killed over the last month at the port.
Around 18,000 people have been arrested by French police since the start of this year. The authorities say there are just too many people to deal with.
Cameron said this week that the problem had to be stopped “at source” by tackling people trafficking and by making sure the UK was “a less easy place” for illegal immigrants to find work.
However the government has been criticised by refugee agencies who believe ministers are losing sight of thecrisis.
“France and Germany are now offering to take a share of the migrants in Greece and Italy but the UK is continuing to say it is not our problem – you keep them and deal with them,’’ said Zoe Gardner.
“Cameron likes to remind us that we have the fastest growing economy in
Europe and if that is the case surely we can step up and take a humanitarian stand on this.
“Instead what we are doing is giving a knee-jerk response by building another fence when no-one believes this is a solution to the problem. We need a little more realism as this is not going to go away.”
Patrick Harvie: The Calais crisis is about humanity, not security, delayed holidays and trade
Fears that humanitarian crisis may push Scots firms to brink
One man’s journey through the tunnel to Scotland...and a life free of torture and imprisonment
Humza Yousaf: The UK must play its proper role to save lives
The National view: Cameron must stop fuelling suspicion and join EU solution to refugee crisis
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