SANGATTE TO CLOSE ITS DOORS TO NEW RESIDENTS


Reference: 260/2002 - Date: 26 Sep 2002 15:03
The Sangatte Red Cross Centre will not accept any more residents from
15 November this year and will register all current residents from
tomorrow (27 September), the French and UK Governments announced
today.


The Governments confirmed that the camp will close completely by
April 2003 at the latest.


The Home Secretary, David Blunkett agreed these measures in his third
formal meeting on clandestine entry from Northern France with the
French Interior Minister, Nicolas Sarkozy.


The Ministers agreed that:


. Sangatte will close by April 2003 at the latest;
. Sangatte will no longer accept residents after 15 November;
. From tomorrow all residents of Sangatte will be registered by the
Red Cross - this will include the issuing of a registration card;
. The UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) will have an advisory
role in the closure programme;
. There will be a joint French/ UK programme of voluntary returns
involving the UNHCR and the International Organisation for Migration;
. There will be enforced returns of Sangatte residents where
necessary and possible.


The two Ministers agreed to meet again in London in the second half
of November to finalise arrangements for the closure of the centre.


Mr Blunkett said:


"This is excellent progress and demonstrates the commitment of both
Governments to tackling the problem of illegal immigration. We have
today agreed a date for closing the doors on any new admissions to
Sangatte - a significant step towards the full closure of the centre
next Spring."


The Ministers also discussed the progress that has been made since
their last meeting in July, which includes:


. Technology installed at the port of Calais to detect clandestine
entrants trying to enter the UK;
. British immigration officers working alongside the French Police
aux Frontières (PAF) at the port of Calais, with plans to operate
full immigration control on French territory (juxtaposed controls) in
Calais as already happens at Paris and Coquelles;
. PAF officers participating in the reciprocal arrangement by
checking passengers as they arrive in London Waterloo;
. Improved security at Frethun freight yard, including a 4km long and
3 metre high fencing;
. 100 gendarmes posted to Frethun and surrounding area since early
August, also around 35 SNCF security personnel plus approximately 40
security personnel patrolling the area. These measures have already
seen a rapid improvement in normalising freight traffic. Clandestine
entrants arriving at Dollands Moor from Frethun have fallen from 365
in April to 55 in August 2002.


The UK has already introduced measures that reduce the pull factor by:


- tackling illegal working by introducing measures such as the ARC
card and tougher penalties for those that knowingly employ illegal
workers;


- overhauling the asylum system by introducing an end-to-end policy
of induction, accommodation and removal centres, streamlining the
appeals process, stopping benefit shopping and securing our borders
by the implementation of new technology and improved intelligence.


The UK has also:


- ended the policy of routinely granting ELR to failed asylum seekers
>from Afghanistan;
- introduced a voluntary return package for those wishing to return
to Afghanistan;
- abolished the right to work for asylum seekers.


Additional measures are also under consideration by the Home
Secretary which, if necessary, will be brought forward in the NIA
Bill. There is also a consultation on entitlement cards, which, if
introduced, could help combat illegal working and identity fraud.



Mr Blunkett said:


"I know that M Sarkozy welcomes our actions and we are both looking
forward to those which require legislation coming into force after
the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill receives Royal Assent.


"The Bill will build on measures already in place to ensure we
deliver an efficient, robust immigration and asylum system. The new
legislation will allow us to clamp down even harder on abuses such as
clandestine entry, illegal working and unfounded claims while opening
up new avenues of legal migration and offering a safe haven for those
genuinely fleeing persecution.


"I reiterate again, this is a marathon, not a sprint. I am not here
to make grand promises, but deliver tangible results by working
together with the French.


"With the continued co-operation with M Sarkozy, and the readiness of
the Belgian Government to enter into the discussion on illegal
immigration we are reaching our long term goal of tackling the
Europe-wide problem of immigration abuse.


"We are investing in new technology and more immigration officers.
Tougher immigration controls and security measures are already making
a difference. Immigration controls at Eurostar stations in France
have significantly cut the numbers of passengers without proper
documents arriving at Waterloo - in the past four weeks no asylum
applications have been received at Waterloo from passengers arriving
>from France.


"I said in July that I was determined to see a normal rail freight
service restored in Frethun by September - and to prevent clandestine
travel via the Channel Tunnel. I am encouraged by reports that
services are increasing.


"What we have achieved at Coquelles to reduce the number of illegal
immigrants arriving at Cheriton, hidden on board the freight Shuttle
>from around 200 a week to an average of four a week in the last three
months, can be achieved at Frethun.


"The double fence is now complete and the additional gendarmes and
other security personnel are in post. Good progress is being made
with the rest of the fixed security installation.


"I want potential illegal immigrants to realise there is simply no
point in coming to northern France as it is increasingly difficult to
get into the UK. They need to know that the French and UK Governments
are taking firm action to cut abuse of asylum and illegal
immigration. The abuse of systems put in place to protect genuine
asylum seekers will not be tolerated."



Notes to Editors
1 Pre-registration will be a system whereby residents will be issued
with an access card - showing their name, photograph, date of birth
and origin - on arrival at the centre. This would assist the Red
Cross and UNHCR and should help to deter traffickers from entering
the camp.
2 The Ministers also discussed possibilities for extending UK
Immigration Service presence to other French ports and for the
posting of PAF officers to UK ports in the future.
3 The security at Frethun includes a double fence, lighting, a
vehicle track inside the perimeter, alarm systems, and the deployment
of additional gendarmes and private security personnel.
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