People smugglers are still profiting from small boats. Can the UK fix the crisis?
Summary
People smugglers continue to help asylum seekers cross the English Channel in small boats, despite UK government efforts to stop them. A recent UK-France deal to exchange one returned migrant for one legally resettled refugee has ended because it was not working well.Key Facts
- Smugglers quickly prepare small boats to cross the Channel from northern France to the UK.
- About 30 asylum seekers, including people from Iraq and Yemen, are waiting to cross at the French coast.
- The UK-France “one in, one out” scheme moved around 1,500 people but has now stopped.
- The UK government plans to resettle a few hundred refugees legally each year but expects small boat crossings to continue.
- NGOs say conditions for asylum seekers in northern France are very poor.
- UK funding to France to stop boat crossings has increased police actions against asylum seekers.
- Medical groups report rising physical and mental harm caused by police violence on migrants in France.
- The situation remains urgent because people keep risking dangerous sea crossings to reach the UK.
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