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 illegal migrants who have crossed the English Channel to enter the UK since 1 April 2020.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The data showing the number of migrants intercepted crossing the English Channel to enter the UK for the months of January, February and March is shown in the table below, including the claimed nationalities for those migrants:
(a) January 2020 – 94; (b) February 2020 – 182 and (c) March 2020 – 187. |
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By nationality: | Jan | Feb | March |
Iran (Islamic Republic of) | 53 | 109 | 104 |
Iraq | 16 | 40 | 63 |
Syria Arab Republic | 16 | 18 | 13 |
Afghanistan | 5 | 3 | 5 |
Kuwait Bidoun |
|
| 1 |
Yemen |
| 5 | 1 |
Pakistan | 4 | 1 |
|
Mali |
| 2 |
|
Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) |
| 1 |
|
Senegal |
| 1 |
|
Egypt |
| 1 |
|
Guinea |
| 1 |
|
Grand Total | 94 | 182 | 187 |
The total number of migrants for the April period cannot yet be released as the figures have not passed through a data quality check and cannot be assured. The figures will be published at a later date, once they have been
verified.
Asked by: Tracey Crouch (Conservative - Chatham and Aylesford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has for the deportation of illegal migrants who have crossed the English Channel to enter the UK during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
It is the policy of this Government to return those not in need of protection.
The majority of countries who are signatories to the Dublin Regulations which governs the return of those seeking asylum in the UK to a third country have announced temporary suspension of transfers to and from all EU Member States due to the Corona virus.
Returns to third-countries can still take place where there is a suitable route of return.
We are ready to resume Dublin returns as soon as travel restrictions are lifted
Asked by: Tracey Crouch (Conservative - Chatham and Aylesford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether illegal migrants who have crossed the English Channel to enter the UK are being tested for covid-19; and how many illegal migrants have been so tested since the start of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The processes to manage clandestine arrivals are kept under regular review. In line with Public Health Guidance we are not currently providing routine testing for clandestine arrivals to the UK. In line with established processes, those arriving across the Channel are immediately assessed to establish whether there are any medical requirements. Those showing symptoms of COVID-19 are provided with suitable accommodation in which to self-isolate. There are currently no cases of Covid-19 in the immigration detention estate.
Asked by: Tracey Crouch (Conservative - Chatham and Aylesford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to help prevent illegal migrants from crossing the English Channel to enter the UK.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Keeping our border secure is the Government’s highest priority and it is committed to doing everything it can to stop these dangerous Channel crossings which are putting vulnerable lives at risk.
The Home Office liaises directly with the French Interior Ministry on addressing the issue of illegal migration, engaging at an official, diplomatic level and supported at an operational level through regular UK-French Migration Committees.
Through this joint-working, the UK has funded the continued deployment of gendarme reservists along the coast of northern France, who are patrolling constantly in order to detect attempted crossings by migrants. Funding has been allocated, among other projects, for further improvements at ports in northern France and on the ground, this now includes drones, specialist vehicles and detection equipment to stop small boats leaving European shores.
Intelligence flows are also key to dismantling the organised crime groups behind crossings. We have restructured and repurposed our approach to support the growing intelligence feeds which is used to inform and direct how and where resource is deployed.
Asked by: Tracey Crouch (Conservative - Chatham and Aylesford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to protect Border Force officials from contracting covid-19 when dealing with illegal migrants crossing the English Channel to enter the UK.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
We take the welfare of the domestic population, our staff and the welfare of the detainees in our care very seriously and we are taking the following further measures in respect to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Border Force and Immigration Enforcement Officers have been provided with facemasks, disposable gloves, eye protection and aprons. Additionally, other items to support frontline staff including hand sanitiser, wipes for equipment/vehicles and clinical waste sacks have been procured and distributed.
Staff use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when encountering symptomatic migrants, in line with PHE guidance. Specific guidance has been issued to staff about the processes for dealing with symptomatic clandestine arrivals during interviewing, fingerprinting and transport.
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 - Minister of State (Home Office)
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 - Minister of State (Home Office)
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.