Lee Anderson has erupted with fury after being handed an Arabic version of a leaflet that guides migrants on how to cross the Channel and claim asylum in the UK. The Reform UK chairman described it as an “instruction manual” and accused French police and NGOs of being complicit in the trade in people's lives.
Leaflets in 16 languages
The handheld leaflets are available in 16 languages, including Arabic, Pashto, and Farsi. They warn asylum seekers to avoid windy conditions, dodge cargo ships, and stay in their boats. A QR code on the document directs users to videos coaching them on how to claim asylum in the UK, as well as providing up-to-date weather conditions and instructions on how to send GPS coordinates to rescue teams.
Video details loopholes
The cartoon-style video, available in nine languages, details potential loopholes that migrants can exploit, including by expanding the interpretation of “persecution,” adding that the “evidence” is their “story.” It states: “In many cases, the decision-makers do not believe you when you tell your story. You need to think about what other evidence you can get to prove what you're saying happened is true, and what you think could happen to you is likely. Are there witnesses to things that happen to you? Have you got documents that prove any part of your story? These might include medical records, arrest warrants, court documents, letters from friends or organisations showing you're in danger.”
Anderson's anger
Mr Anderson, who was handed the document by a journalist during a visit to a migrant camp in Grande-Synthe, raged: “There's a QR code on there, and it directs you to a website with all different languages – like an instruction manual – showing you how to cross the Channel 'safely' and what to do when you reach the UK. I keep banging on about this trade in people's lives, it's all organised. I think the police are complicit in this as well, and the NGOs, for me, are the biggest part of the problem, literally encouraging people to set up this camp. They're giving them hope – hope that they can come to a better life in the UK, and that, unfortunately, is costing lots of lives in the Channel. The trade will continue, and we will continue to get migrants into our country that we don't want. There are people who have committed all sorts of horrible crimes.”
Speaking about the emergency response numbers, Mr Anderson added: “It's the full sheet – if you're people from a different country and want to make this perilous journey across Europe and to the UK, this is all you need. The camp will be full of criminals there, but we're the people who entered this country legally two days ago – it's us that has been treated like criminals.”
Police confrontation
Riot police blocked Mr Anderson and journalists from visiting the migrant camp in Grande-Synthe on Wednesday morning as dozens of police vehicles entered the site. The heavily armoured officers demanded to see identification, while dodging questions about the hundreds of migrants living in tents and makeshift homes behind them. Mr Anderson tried to give officers his Oyster Card, adding: "Is that okay?" When they then refused it, asking for a driving licence, he said: "What if I am an illegal migrant? Can I go and camp in there?"
Describing the chaos, he told the Daily Express: “They let the migrants camp here and straight away they ask for our ID again. I am pretty sure they are not asking to see the identification of the illegal migrants. It makes you wonder – we pay them all that money, and they treat us like illegal invaders.”
Camp conditions
The camp in Grande-Synthe used to be confined to much smaller areas. But it now spans 350 metres along the side of a main road, with it sprawling back into the trees. Migrants have established washing lines and hidden their tents under the canopy of trees. One was seen lying on the floor, underneath a sleeping bag, exposed to the elements. And fires could be seen raging in the distance, with the smell of rubbish hanging in the air.
Pressure on French police
The revelations come as pressure intensifies on the French police to stop Channel migrants from entering the water. And Paris is facing demands to accept a far greater number of people being returned. A staggering 173 people were rescued on Tuesday after the biggest ever mega-dinghy was launched near Dieppe. A fire broke out, sparking panic as people jumped into the water, fleeing the flames. An Egyptian national was arrested on Tuesday night after being accused of charging asylum seekers £1,000 each to board the mega dinghy. Investigators revealed: “There were 50 women and children on the boat, and they all declined emergency accommodation. All want to get to Britain as quickly as possible.” Their boat had set off late on Monday night from the Normandy beach of Veules-les-Roses, a small village close to Dieppe.
