The change would free up Home Office officials to focus on asylum reforms, a government source says.
Image source, Reuters
The armed forces are set to take charge of operations looking to limit migrant crossings in the English Channel within weeks, a government source has said.
This move could free up the Home Office to focus on the government’s reforms to the asylum system, the source adds.
The news follows reports in the Times that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will give the Royal Navy authority over government vessels in the channel.
The number of people who crossed last year was treble that in 2020.
Figures compiled by the BBC show at least 28,431 migrants made the journey in small boats in 2021 – up from 8,417 people the year before – despite huge UK investment in France to prevent crossings.
On 24 November at least 27 people died after their boat sank, in the largest single loss of life in the Channel since records began in 2014.
Last week, the Home Office said more than 270 people crossed in 10 small boats on Thursday.
A government spokesperson said the public have “rightly had enough of the blatant disregard of our immigration laws by criminal people smugglers” and ministers were “bringing in necessary long-term changes”.
They added: “The UK armed forces already work closely with Border Force in these operations, providing expertise and assets as part of our processes in the Channel. It is right that we pursue all options to prevent illegal crossings and protect life at sea.”
However, Defence Select Committee chair Tobias Ellwood criticised the proposals as being “rushed out” and said he would be asking questions of the government about them on Monday.
Speaking to Sky News, the Conservative MP said the plans were a “massive distraction” for the military amid growing threats from Russia and China, adding: “This isn’t what our navy should be doing.”
In March last year, Home Secretary Priti Patel set out plans to overhaul the way people applying for asylum in the UK are treated.
Under the plans, people who arrive in the UK by what the government calls illegal means to claim asylum will no longer have the same entitlements as those who arrive through proper channels.
At the time, Ms Patel said her plans would create a “faster and fairer” system that would “better support the most vulnerable” and the government would crack down on people smugglers exploiting those trying to reach the UK.
The Labour Party has criticised the plans for lacking compassion and being ineffective at discouraging crossings. Human rights lawyers warned they they are unlawful because they ignore Britain’s international obligations.
In December, four Iranian men who crossed in small boats had their convictions for immigration offences quashed by the Court of Appeal, which concluded it had not been proven they intended to enter the UK illegally.