World

France Unveils Plan for Deterring Undocumented Migrants in English Channel

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner laid out a plan Friday for stopping illegal English Channel crossings, after hundreds of migrants attempted the trip in past months.
Sputnik

Castaner said on Twitter actions had been taken to step up coordination between agencies, increase surveillance in ports, raise awareness among coast guards, and fight human traffickers.

UK Deploys Royal Navy to English Channel to Curb Wave of Illegal Migration
The measures were taken in the run-up to a joint action plan that the French minister hopes to agree with UK authorities during his upcoming visit to London, French broadcaster France Bleu said.

French coast guards reportedly detained 228 people last year for trying to cross the English Channel illegally. British media said at least 239 had made it to the UK shore since November, prompting the military to deploy a Royal Navy patrol ship this week to assist the border force.

READ MORE: Seven Iranian Migrants Rescued in English Channel by UK Border Force

Discuss