Independent TV

Showing now | Behind The Headlines

What's behind the Channel crossing 'crisis'? | Behind The Headlines

11:39

What's behind the Channel crossing 'crisis'?

The rise in asylum seekers crossing the English Channel has dominated the headlines for a number of years now. This has generated some anger and hostility – and an assumption there has been a surge in migration to the UK.

Home secretary Priti Patel has taken a hardline approach, vowing to reduce crossings by denying permanent protection to refugees who arrive via this route.

But the reality is that there hasn’t been an increase in arrivals – in fact, that number of asylum claims in the UK has dropped.

The Independent’s social affairs correspondent May Bulman goes Behind The Headlines.

Up next

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in