David Hanson MP, Labour’s Shadow Immigration Minister, responding to the Home Office disclosure that thousands of illegal entry attempts were detected at Calais and British ports this year, said:

“The Government has ignored repeated warnings from Labour and hauliers about the growing crisis at Calais. David Cameron needs to realise how serious this problem is and take urgent steps to work with our allies in Europe  to sort it out. Under this government illegal immigration is getting worse. That’s why Labour has put forward funded plans for 1000 more border staff to help sort the problems out.

“It is unacceptable that the same people are trying night after night to enter Britain illegally. If they do not have the right to remain in Europe, why are the French authorities taking no steps to remove them? We need a European wide effort to ensure people’s immigration status is assessed at the first port they arrive in, as this was agreed as part of the Dublin convention. People should not be able to travel across Europe without being apprehended and - if they are asylum seekers - given the support they need. Britain should also be a lead player in the continued efforts to resolve the refugee and humanitarian  crisis in north Africa and the middle east which is  leading to people fleeing.

“Instead of sensible action, the Tories have burned bridges across Europe, which makes it harder to persuade the French authorities and other European governments to act.”

ENDS