Britain has just five scanners to detect stowaways trying to enter the country in lorries through our 29 ports, it can be revealed.There is mounting concern about security at our borders with 2,500 illegal immigrants camped in Calais trying to reach the UK.
The
UK Border Force budget fell by 20 per cent last year, raising fears
about the ability to detect attempts by foreigners to smuggle themselves
across the Channel in cars, trucks and trailers.
Ministers
have been forced to admit that despite there being 51 points of entry
into the UK at 29 ports for foreign vehicles, there are just five
scanners in operation in France checking vehicles before they leave for
Britain.
The
so-called Passive Millimetre Wave Imaging devices scan vehicles for the
presence of ‘clandestines’. Each scanner costs around £800,000 to buy,
and £83 to run for 24 hours.
We need to demonstrate that everything possible is being done at our borders to prevent illegal entry into the country
Tory MP Steven Barclay
With
so few devices available, there are concerns that they are not used in
some areas because they risk causing queues of lorries to build up,
making it easier for stowaways to climb into the backs of lorries.
The figures were unearthed by Tory MP Steven Barclay in a series of parliamentary questions.
He told MailOnline that it raised serious questions about the security of the UK’s borders.
He
said: ‘It is very concerning that the UK Border Force budget has been
cut and there are so few machines to scan vehicles at a time when we
know our points of entry, particularly at Calais, are under such
pressure.
‘When
Parliament is being asked to vote on the European Arrest Warrant we
need to demonstrate that everything possible is being done at our
borders to prevent illegal entry into the country.
‘The
significant increase in illegal entrants identified over the last year
illustrates the urgency in resourcing border controls effectively.’
He
highlighted figures show that the Border Force budget was cut by 20 per
cent from £596million in 2012-13 to £467million last year.
The
Home Office confirmed that the five Passive Millimetre Imaging devices
are ‘located at the juxtaposed controls’ in France and are used for
‘detecting clandestines in soft sided vehicles’.
There are a further 19 body-scanners which individuals must walk through, which are used to detect drugs.
The
Home Office said that last year the Border Force detected and prevented
18,000 attempts to enter the UK illegally before they left the
continent, a 62 per cent rise on the previous year.
Tory MP Steven Barclay said more needed to be done our borders to prevent illegal entry into the country
Growing numbers of migrants have been trying to enter the UK through Calais in recent months.
Last
week Bernard Cazeneuve, the French interior minister, called for
Britain send police to Calais to deal with the port's 'tremendous
problem' with illegal immigration.
Calais'
mayor Natacha Bouchart told MPs that Britain was seen as an ‘El Dorado’
for migrants – and many were prepared to die to make the journey.
Blaming
the UK for the crisis, Miss Bouchart said lavish benefits and the
prospect of illegal work and accommodation were magnets for immigrants
determined to get across the English Channel.
She
said illegal migrants, many fleeing humanitarian disasters in Africa
and the Middle East, were ‘prepared to die’ to reach Britain, believing
it to be like the mythical lost city of gold, El Dorado.
British taxpayers will be contributing to a new £2.35 million a year welcome centre for UK-bound illegal migrants in Calais.
The
bill will be added to the £12million the British government has already
pledged to the French to improve security in the port town this year.
Hauliers face stiff penalties of thousands of pounds if they are caught with illegal immigrants hiding in their lorries.
If they are carrying food or crops in their lorries, the cargo is often condemned, leaving them further out of pocket.
The
Road Haulage Association has urged the Home Office to do more to
increase truck speeds through ports ‘in order to reduce boarding times,
and limit the opportunities for illegals to board vehicles’.
A
Home Office spokesperson said: “Security at the UK border is our
priority and Border Force employs a number of cutting-edge techniques to
detect clandestines.
‘These
include the use of body scanners, imaging devices, sniffer dogs, carbon
dioxide detectors, heartbeat monitors and scanners - in addition to
officers conducting visual searches.
“Last
year, our officials detected and prevented 18,000 clandestines entering
the UK illegally and we will continue to strengthen our border to stop
those who have no right to enter the UK.”
Calais' mayor Natacha Bouchart has
warned migrants are willing to risk death to cross the English Channel
and access Britain's benefits system
Tomorrow
MPs will vote on Britain being part of the European Arrest Warrant,
which makes it easier for criminals to be deported between EU countries
to face justice.
The
controversial power is one of 35 European Union police and criminal
justice measures the Government wants to opt back in to, with MPs
expected to vote on the package as a whole.
The
Tory leadership faces a revolt from dozens of Tory MPs,who could defy
the party leadership to oppose the measure because of concerns that it
is too easy for UK citizens to be extradited on relatively minor charges
to countries where they may have no guarantee of a fair trial.
Home
Secretary Theresa May today issued a direct plea for MPs to back the
EAW. 'If we want to stop foreign criminals from coming to Britain, deal
with European fighters coming back from Syria, stop British criminals
evading justice abroad, prevent foreign criminals evading justice by
hiding here, and get foreign criminals out of our prisons, these
measures are vital.
'Tomorrow
evening, the House of Commons should vote to give the police,
prosecutors and other law enforcement agencies the powers they need to
keep us safe.'
Home Secretary Theresa May issued a
direct plea for MPs to back the European Arrest Warrant, which makes it
easier to deport criminals across EU borders
Tory
backbencher David Davis accused Mrs May of 'scaremongering' with her
claims the (EAW) would lead to Britain becoming a 'honeypot' for
fugitives.
Writing
in the Sunday Times Mr Davis said: 'It is better to take a few weeks
longer to return a terrorist to British justice than to take three years
longer to recover a British citizen from a foreign injustice.
'The
warnings that Britain will become a safe haven for criminals is an
example of the sort of scaremongering that has become far too prevalent
in the debates on justice and anti-terrorism measures.
'The UK was certainly no safe haven prior to the introduction of the EAW.'
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