Patel presses French to take back migrants who cross Channel illegally

Home Secretary plans to ditch EU law that allows refugees to choose where they apply for asylum

PRITI PATEL yesterday urged the French to enable the UK to return cross-channel migrants to France even if they were caught in British waters.

The Home Secretary also sought to renegotiate an international agreement so that Britain can return more asylum seekers who landed in the UK.

In what were described as “positive” talks with Christophe Castaner, her French counterpart, Ms Patel said it was in the interests of both countries to deter migrants from attempting the perilous crossing by having the threat of being returned, whether they were at sea or on land.

“If people know that they can’t get across the Channel, they are less likely to congregate in the camps so it is a benefit to the French. It’s not just in the interests of the UK,” a source close to Ms Patel said.

In the past 16 months, only 155 of the 2,500 intercepted migrants across the Channel have been sent back. The rate of attempts to cross this year has doubled and some migrants have deliberately sailed just beyond half way before calling UK coastguards or police so that they can be rescued and brought to the UK where they can claim asylum.

In the talks with Mr Castaner, France’s interior minister, Ms Patel is seeking to agree a three-part plan: to close the temporary camps in northern France; to increase measures to prevent attempts; and strike a new deal on sending migrants back.

The source added: “The call was very positive and the French were clear they want to help.”

The Home Secretary is also seeking to renegotiate the Dublin Regulation, under which the country where any asylum seeker first applies for asylum is responsible for processing the claim.

Home Office sources say this is “rigid and restrictive” as it prevents the UK from returning migrants who have dodged fingerprint and identity checks during their journeys across European Union countries where they should have been processed.

Another source said the French were sympathetic as a means to end the trafficking trade which has now spread during the coronavirus pandemic to the coast of Belgium.

“Returns to Europe are bound by the Dublin Regulation, which is restrictive and rigid legislation,” a source said. “We are in negotiations with the EU to put in place more favourable return agreements with our European partners after the UK has left the [Brexit] transition period.”

Britain has already provided at least £50 million to beef up security in France, with drones and other detection equipment. However, so far this has failed to stem the rise in migrants.