Asked by: Tracey Crouch (Conservative - Chatham and Aylesford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with representatives from (a) Kent County Council and (b) Kent Police on the potential merits of providing additional Government support to help deal with illegal migrants crossing the English Channel to enter the UK during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
In line with existing processes, we are in regular contact with Kent Police and the Local Resilience Forum regarding migrant crossings in the Channel. These discussions have continued during the covid-19 response and have been factored into operational planning.
Border Force and Immigration Enforcement are continuing to keep the UK’s border secure and have robust contingency plans in place to respond the covid-19 pandemic driven by the latest scientific and medical advice. In line with that advice to date, no changes have been required at the UK border.
Working with the Department for Transport and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Border Force Maritime have worked with commercial operators and Port Security Officers to ensure that sightings of potentially suspicious small vessels are reported immediately.
Additionally, Border Force have worked with HM Coastguard to increase safety broadcasts to all vessels in the Channel, encouraging them to look out for and report small vessels. Border Force Maritime continues to encourage the public and industry to report suspicious activity and reduce the threat from organised crime and terrorism. Regional General Maritime teams have been bolstered to further improve their capability to receive and process migrants.
The Kent Multi-Agency Hub brings together officers from the police, National Crime Agency, Border Force, HMRC and Immigration Enforcement to share, develop and analyse intelligence between agencies.
Asked by: Tracey Crouch (Conservative - Chatham and Aylesford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with her French counterpart on conditions in migrant camps in northern France.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
The UK and France maintain a strong relationship on managing the response to those attempting to access the UK illegally, including in respect of migrant camps and identifying supporting the most vulnerable. The Home Secretary was due to meet the French Interior Minister in March; however this trip has been postponed due to current Covid-19 travel restrictions.
Those who are moved on from camps in Northern France are taken to reception centres where their asylum claims can be lodged, and any other needs assessed. Since the start of the Covid-19 lockdown in France, over 600 migrants have been moved to accommodation centres to aid with social distancing measures. Within these centres, individuals are provided with medical and administrative support.
Asked by: Tracey Crouch (Conservative - Chatham and Aylesford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of police forces that have used the Vagrancy Act 1824 in England since 2015.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The information requested is not centrally available as the Home Office only collects data on police activity in relation to notifiable offences, that is, those indictable or triable-either-way cases that may be heard at a Crown Court. Offences under the Vagrancy Act are not notifiable.
Asked by: Tracey Crouch (Conservative - Chatham and Aylesford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of times the Vagrancy Act 1824 has been used by Kent Police since 2015.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
The information requested is not centrally available as the Home Office only collects data on police activity in relation to notifiable offences, that is, those indictable or triable-either-way cases that may be heard at a Crown Court. Offences under the Vagrancy Act are not notifiable.
Asked by: Tracey Crouch (Conservative - Chatham and Aylesford)
Question to the Home Office:
If she will repeal the Vagrancy Act 1824; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Seema Kennedy
The Government believes that no-one should be criminalised simply for sleeping rough.
In the Cross-Government Rough Sleeping Strategy published last year we committed to review the Vagrancy Act.
The review is consulting with stakeholders on all options including retention, repeal, replacement or amendment.