31 Jul 2015

David Cameron warns migrant crisis will last all summer

Britain to send sniffer dogs and more fencing to Calais as the prime minister says disruption could last throughout the summer

The prime minister has said that the fallout from the growing migrant crisis in Calais will last throughout the summer as he pledges MoD land to ease traffic chaos in Kent.

David Cameron said that that the current situation of “people trying to illegally enter our country” is “absolutely not acceptable”.

Britain, he said, was going to send France more fences, resources and sniffer dog teams to stop migrants from getting access to the Channel Tunnel.

MoD land will also be used to ease pressure on the motorways caused by lorries which have been unable to cross into France being “stacked” on the M20

He added that Britain was going to work “hand in glove” with the French police to stop migrants getting access to the tunnel terminals.

The prime minister has been criticised for his language surrounding the crisis, describing the desperate migrants attempting to enter Britain as a “storm”.

His comments come as Eurotunnel officials met with security experts at the French interior ministry and confirmed confirmed new high security fencing around platforms in Calais.

The company, which has criticised the response of the French and British governments, said that its own high security fencing around platforms has become operational today.

Security fencing, previously used at the 2012 Olympics and the Nato summit, will be “completed in the coming days”.

Meanwhile french ferry workers have restarted their protests at the port of Calais.

The striking French workers have been filmed throwing tyres onto a burning barricade on the motorway outside the port, causing more travel problems for holiday makers and lorry drivers attempting to make the crossing to Britain.

The employees at the Eurotunnel owned, MyFerryLink, are protesting looming job cuts.