A group of migrants are escorted by Border Forcer officers as they approach the Port of Dover on January 18, 2022
(Picture: PA)Naval chiefs are drawing up plans to deploy a new maritime force of up to 10 new ships to intercept illegal migrants in the Channel, a Government minister said on Thursday.
Armed Forces Minister James Heappey said the Ministry of Defence was looking at leasing the new “platforms” to pick up people who attempt the hazardous crossing in dinghies and other small boats.
The new force is part of the UK Government’s push to reduce the numbers of migrants who attempt the crossing. Last year 28,431 people crossed the Channel in small boats –three times the number in 2020.
Britain’s Nationality and Borders Bill, which is currently going through the House of Lords, attempts to deter illegal migrants by stopping and diverting vessels carrying them to the UK.
Last month Boris Johnson gave the go-ahead for the UK’s armed forces to support the Border Force’s efforts to intercept migrants – widely seen as an attempt to boost support among Conservative MPs amid the Westminster storm over partygate.
Mr Heappey told LBC on Thursday morning that while members of the armed forces were not able to arrest illegal migrants, they would provide a command and control function in the Channel.
“We will provide extra ships for the purpose of co-ordination of the effort but Royal Navy sailors are not empowered to enforce the law and naval vessels are not appropriate,” he said.
The bill, he said, will “criminalise the crossing in its own right”.
