David Cameron to use 'more dogs and fences' to tackle 'unacceptable' Calais migrant crisis – and warns it will last all summer

The Prime Minister wants action taken 'right across the board'

Michael Segalov
Friday 31 July 2015 18:25 BST
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Striking employees of the My Ferry Link company block the access to the harbour after setting tyres on fire in Calais, following the failure of negotiations with French government concerning job cuts
Striking employees of the My Ferry Link company block the access to the harbour after setting tyres on fire in Calais, following the failure of negotiations with French government concerning job cuts

Migrants are set to face more dogs, fences and desperation after David Cameron vowed to take on the "unacceptable" situation in Calais by plying the border with resources to stop migrants attempting to cross into the UK.

"We have got people trying to illegally enter our country and here in Britain we have lorry drivers and holidaymakers facing potential delays," the Prime Minister told reporters.

"We are going to take action right across the board starting with helping the French on their side of the border.

"We are going to put in more fencing, more resources, more sniffer dog teams, more assistance in any way we can in terms of resources.

A man runs away from Gendarmerie near the Eurotunnel terminal in Coquelles

"I want to thank him for the extra French police resources that have been put in that have had some effect but we are keen to offer more and work hand in glove with them to reduce pressure on that side of the border.

"Here in Kent we need to do more to help lorry drivers and holidaymakers. We are going to do everything we can to reduce the disruption, including using MoD land, and we will be looking at other options we can take as well."

He also confirmed he was due to hold talks with French President François Hollande.

Speaking in Downing Street after chairing a meeting of the Cobra emergency committee, the Prime Minister said the situation was "unacceptable".

"This is going to be a difficult issue right across the summer," he said.

Striking employees of the My Ferry Link company burn tyres as they block the access to the harbour in Calais
Motorists wait in their cars as striking employees of the My Ferry Link company block the access to the harbour in Calais

While another day of strikes are bringing the French port of Calais to a standstill, police and social services in Kent are struggling to cope with the numbers of young people desperate for help, from this surge in migrants attempting to reach the UK.

Mr Cameron said no action would be ruled out as he announced extra sniffer dogs and fencing will be sent to France and Ministry of Defence land will be used to ease congestion to try to help deal with the crisis.

However, the measures were described as a "sticking plaster" by the Road Haulage Association (RHA).

Migrants escape from the French Police as they try to catch a train to reach England
French gendarmes attempt to block a migrant after he entered the Eurotunnel site in Coquelles near Calais

Extra sniffer dogs and fencing will be sent to France, and Ministry of Defence land will be used to ease congestion to try to help deal with the Calais migrant crisis, Prime Minister David Cameron has said.

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