Sajid Javid last night called in the military as he tried to get a grip on the Channel migrant crisis.
In a major escalation, a Royal Naval vessel will today be sent to patrol the Straits of Dover and the Royal Air Force will provide aerial surveillance.
The deployment is yet another U-turn for the Home Secretary, who refused an offer of military assistance from Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson at the weekend but last night changed his mind and wrote to him requesting support.
Mr Javid, touted by some as a possible future Tory leadership candidate, has faced days of criticism over what has been seen as a botched response to the crisis.
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Sajid Javid speaks to the media after meeting British Border Force staff in Dover on Wednesday
At least 139 migrants were caught crossing from France to Britain over Christmas, and 239 have reached the UK since November.
The Home Secretary was ridiculed after he classified the crisis as a ‘major incident’ on Friday while remaining on a family safari holiday 6,000 miles away in South Africa.
When he returned to Whitehall on Monday, he ordered the return of two Border Force cutters from the Mediterranean but resisted the offer of military assistance from Mr Williamson, who is seen as a potential leadership rival.
HMS Mersey, a naval patrol vessel, will set off from Portsmouth this morning to be stationed off the Kent coast. It will provide cover while the Border Force patrol boats return from the Mediterranean, which could take as long as a fortnight. Royal Navy sailors will also be sent to help man the civilian vessels when they eventually get back so they can operate around the clock.
The RAF will provide aerial surveillance to track boats trying to make the crossing. Ministry of Defence sources said last night it was still being decided what form this could take.
HMS Mersey (pictured), a naval patrol vessel, will set off from Portsmouth this morning to be stationed off the Kent coast
Mr Javid used a visit to Dover yesterday to vow tough action on the cross-Channel migrants. He questioned whether many attempting the crossing were ‘genuine’ asylum seekers and suggested they should try to claim refuge in France instead.
The Home Secretary’s decision to finally call in the Navy and RAF may be seen by some as an attempt to burnish his Tory leadership credentials.
But by only moving yesterday, he may also risk accusations that he is acting too late. There have been no known migrant arrivals on Britain’s shores since New Year’s Eve, although this is thought to be partly because of poor sea conditions deterring further attempts.
Meanwhile, the two civilian ships that are supposed to be coming back from the Mediterranean were still sitting in their ports last night - more than 48 hours after Mr Javid ordered their return.
HMC Seeker was photographed yesterday moored inside a Gibraltar harbour with no obvious signs of its crew preparing it for departure.
Meanwhile, HMC Protector remained moored in Mytilini harbour on the Greek island of Lesbos last night, according to the ship’s locator beacon.
As well as deploying cutters, the Home Secretary has promised that ‘covert’ action would be taken on the other side of the Channel
Both ships have been taking part in Operation Frontex, which is tackling the migration flows from North Africa and the Middle East to Italy, Greece and Spain.
The Home Office refused to say when they would be sailing or when they would reach the English Channel, citing ‘operational reasons’.
Only one of the five Border Force cutters - specialist boats which are capable of rescuing several migrant boats at the same time - has been working in the Straits of Dover.
Charlie Elphicke, the Tory MP for Dover, last night expressed his concern over the delays in the return of the ships.
He said: ‘I’ve been making the case for the Border Force vessels to come back from the Mediterranean to take back control of our borders.
‘It’s important to know when they will be arriving back in British waters and I hope that the Home Office will clarify the position as soon as possible.
There have been no known migrant arrivals on Britain’s shores since New Year’s Eve
‘It’s difficult to understand why they might still be Mediterranean ports and hopefully they will be come back to British waters as soon as possible.’
As well as deploying cutters, the Home Secretary has promised that ‘covert’ action would be taken on the other side of the Channel to disrupt smuggling rings as part of improved cooperation with French authorities.
Any migrant picked up in English waters will, at least initially, be brought to the UK to have their asylum claim heard.
Under international maritime law, the Channel is divided in half for search and rescue operations.
If migrants are picked up in the UK half, then they are usually taken to Britain. But if they are picked up on the French side, then they are usually taken to France.
The cutters, which each have a crew of around 16, are capable of reaching speeds of about 26 knots.
However their respective journeys to the Channel from the Mediterranean are likely to be slowed by poor weather in the Atlantic.
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https://hienalouca.com/2019/01/03/hms-mersey-will-protect-the-kent-coast-while-raf-tracks-smuggler-boats/
Main photo article Sajid Javid last night called in the military as he tried to get a grip on the Channel migrant crisis.
In a major escalation, a Royal Naval vessel will today be sent to patrol the Straits of Dover and the Royal Air Force will provide aerial surveillance.
The deployment is yet another U-turn for...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
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