Only safe routes will tackle people smuggling
PCS says only safe routes will tackle people smuggling and humanitarian disasters in response to plans between the UK government and France to reduce dangerous channel crossings by disabling criminal gangs.
PCS General Secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Various attempts at deterrents have failed to control crossings. Neither this pilot announced today nor an upscaled version in the future will address the underlying issues or the horrific exploitation of vulnerable people and risk to life. Only safe routes for people seeking to legally claim asylum will avert the humanitarian catastrophes in the Channel which regularly traumatise our members in Border Force.”
Fran also yesterday wrote to home secretary, Yvette Cooper, on behalf of PCS members in the Home Office and across the civil service requesting a meeting to discuss safe routes as a cost-effective policy with humane outcomes for those seeking asylum.
Other than nationality-specific schemes, there is no system in place to allow a person seeking asylum to apply for a visa to enter the UK to make an asylum claim on arrival. PCS has requested that the home secretary enter discussions around its Safe and Secure Routes: Refugee Visa-to-Travel proposal, co-produced with its members in the Home Office, as well as refugee charity Care4Calais and other related non-governmental organisations.