Latest news with #LucyMoreton
Scottish Sun
12-07-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Border Force staff in diphtheria alert after surge of cases among small boat migrants arriving in Britain
Europe is currently experiencing its largest diphtheria outbreak for 70 years ON ALERT Border Force staff in diphtheria alert after surge of cases among small boat migrants arriving in Britain Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BORDER Force staff are being offered diphtheria jabs amid a surge of cases among Channel migrants arriving into Britain. Workers on the Dover frontline have been warned the highly contagious disease is becoming 'rampant' in the French camps where asylum seekers gather. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Cops in Gravelines take selfies with a slashed dinghy Credit: LNP 4 Migrants set off in a boat for Britain Credit: LNP 4 Arrivals at a Border Force compound on British soil Credit: PA And there are fears of a repeat of 2022 when an outbreak at the Manston processing centre in Kent left one person dead and many others in hospital. Last night Border Force staff union chief Lucy Moreton said: 'All staff are now being offered vaccinations against diphtheria. At least one person with a suspected case is coming across every day. 'Migrants are medically assessed before being searched and anyone with symptoms is separated from the rest of the group. 'It's rampant in the crowded camps and spreading due to poor sanitation. But they are avoiding getting medical treatment while in France and instead wait to get treated when they come to the UK. 'One of the big draws to this country is the NHS. People are arriving every day who are motivated by getting medical treatment. Border Force staff are putting themselves at risk but most just see that as part of the job.' Most people in the UK are vaccinated against diphtheria, which attacks the respiratory system, as babies. But boosters can be given if the last jab was more than ten years ago. Europe is currently experiencing its largest diphtheria outbreak for 70 years. There have been two deaths and 536 cases across the continent since 2022, according to France's public health agency and medical research foundation Pasteur Institute. The contagion has mainly hit Afghan and Syrian migrants, with 98 per cent of infections in men with an average age of 18. Case of highly-contagious and deadly disease diphtheria confirmed at UK primary school with parents given urgent warning Adnan — a 21-year-old living in a tent in the squalid Loon-Plage camp after fleeing Syria — told The Sun on Sunday: 'Lots of people are ill. 'It goes around so easily because we live so close together and share the same facilities. 'Most of us are not protected as we're from poor countries. I worry about catching something which could kill me.' The Home Office confirmed that all Border Force staff are being encouraged to ensure they are up to date with the UK routine vaccination schedule. It goes around so easily because we live so close together and share the same facilities Adnan, a 21-year-old living in a tent in the squalid Loon-Plage camp after fleeing Syria It insisted all individuals arriving in the UK by small boats are assessed by healthcare professionals and any potential infectious diseases managed through established protocols. Meanwhile fears rose that there is nothing to stop small-boat migrants returned to France under the one-in, one-out deal from simply crossing the Channel again. They will be flown to Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris — already a vast travel hub for thousands of immigrants, including many who enter Europe illegally. The issue was highlighted by French mayors angry at the scheme hammered out by PM Sir Keir Starmer and President Emmanuel Macron. It is due to start with around 50 illegal migrants a week sent back to France in exchange for asylum seekers with proven family ties to Britain. So far this year at least 21,690 migrants have arrived by boat — around 1,000 a week. An Interior Ministry source in Paris who has studied the small print said: 'Once at the airport, it will be our responsibility to redirect the migrants to reception processing centres. 'They will stay there for a maximum of one month, where they can apply for asylum in France.' Technically, failed asylum seekers can be deported to their country of origin, or to the EU country where they first arrived. But the source said that even if this happens, 'nothing will prevent them from resuming their attempts to get to Britain'. Many will be processed in the greater Paris region — meaning they will still be close to the beaches of northern France. 'Hostages to agreement' The British Government argues that flights back to Paris will act as a deterrent, but the French capital is already a popular transit post for thousands hoping to reach the UK. Pierre-Edouard Davies, mayor of Wissant, near Calais, said: 'This is not going in the right direction. It is inhumane to choose migrants and send the others back to us. They are human beings — treating them like this is appalling and disrespectful. Migrants are medically assessed before being searched and anyone with symptoms is separated from the rest of the group. It's rampant in the crowded camps and spreading due to poor sanitation Lucy Moreton, Border Force staff union chief 'We asked to be heard by the British Parliament, by the French President and the British Prime Minister, and we received no response.' Guy Allemand, mayor of Sangatte, Calais, said: 'We continue to suffer without being listened to. 'We want to convey our daily experiences, but we feel scorned on the subject. 'This lack of consideration is causing anger — not to mention the doubts generated by this agreement.' Bertrand Ringot, mayor of Gravelines, added: 'The mayors must be heard because it's to us that the population is turning. 'We are hostages to this agreement.' He called for reception centres to be 'shared out' across France. Stéphane Pinto, mayor of Ambleteuse, said the need for the deal to be ratified by the European Commission — plus inevitable challenges from human rights lawyers — could mean it is years before it is implemented. 4 Lucy Moreton said: 'All staff are now being offered vaccinations against diphtheria. At least one person with a suspected case is coming across every day'
The Irish Sun
12-07-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Border Force staff in diphtheria alert after surge of cases among small boat migrants arriving in Britain
BORDER Force staff are being offered diphtheria jabs amid a surge of cases among Channel migrants arriving into Britain. Workers on the Dover frontline have been warned the highly contagious disease is becoming 'rampant' in the French camps where asylum seekers gather. 4 Cops in Gravelines take selfies with a slashed dinghy Credit: LNP 4 Migrants set off in a boat for Britain Credit: LNP 4 Arrivals at a Border Force compound on British soil Credit: PA And there are fears of a repeat of 2022 when an outbreak at the Manston processing centre in Kent left one person dead and many others in hospital. Last night Border Force staff union chief Lucy Moreton said: 'All staff are now being offered vaccinations against diphtheria. At least one person with a suspected case is coming across every day. 'Migrants are medically assessed before being searched and anyone with symptoms is separated from the rest of the group. 'It's rampant in the crowded camps and spreading due to poor sanitation. But they are avoiding getting medical treatment while in France and instead wait to get treated when they come to the UK. Read More on UK News 'One of the big draws to this country is the NHS. People are arriving every day who are motivated by getting medical treatment. Border Force staff are putting themselves at risk but most just see that as part of the job.' Most people in the UK are vaccinated against diphtheria, which attacks the respiratory system, as babies. But boosters can be given if the last jab was more than ten years ago. Europe is currently experiencing its largest Most read in The Sun There have been two deaths and 536 cases across the continent since 2022, according to France's public health agency and medical research foundation Pasteur Institute. The contagion has mainly hit Afghan and Syrian migrants, with 98 per cent of infections in men with an average age of 18. Case of highly-contagious and deadly disease diphtheria confirmed at UK primary school with parents given urgent warning Adnan — a 21-year-old living in a tent in the squalid 'It goes around so easily because we live so close together and share the same facilities. 'Most of us are not protected as we're from poor countries. I worry about catching something which could kill me.' The Home Office confirmed that all Border Force staff are being encouraged to ensure they are up to date with the UK routine vaccination schedule. It goes around so easily because we live so close together and share the same facilities Adnan, a 21-year-old living in a tent in the squalid Loon-Plage camp after fleeing Syria It insisted all individuals arriving in the UK by small boats are assessed by healthcare professionals and any potential infectious diseases managed through established protocols. Meanwhile fears rose that there is nothing to stop small-boat migrants returned to France under the one-in, one-out deal from simply crossing They will be flown to Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris — already a vast travel hub for thousands of immigrants, including many who enter Europe illegally. The issue was highlighted by French mayors angry at the scheme hammered out by PM It is due to start with around 50 illegal migrants a week sent back to France in exchange for asylum seekers with proven family ties to Britain. So far this year at least 21,690 migrants have arrived by boat — around 1,000 a week. An Interior Ministry source in Paris who has studied the small print said: 'Once at the airport, it will be our responsibility to redirect the migrants to reception processing centres. 'They will stay there for a maximum of one month, where they can apply for asylum in France.' Technically, failed asylum seekers can be deported to their country of origin, or to the EU country where they first arrived. But the source said that even if this happens, 'nothing will prevent them from resuming their attempts to get to Britain'. Many will be processed in the greater Paris region — meaning they will still be close to the beaches of northern France. 'Hostages to agreement' The British Government argues that flights back to Paris will act as a deterrent, but the French capital is already a popular transit post for thousands hoping to reach the UK. Pierre-Edouard Davies, mayor of Wissant, near Calais, said: 'This is not going in the right direction. It is inhumane to choose migrants and send the others back to us. They are human beings — treating them like this is appalling and disrespectful. Migrants are medically assessed before being searched and anyone with symptoms is separated from the rest of the group. It's rampant in the crowded camps and spreading due to poor sanitation Lucy Moreton, Border Force staff union chief 'We asked to be heard by the British Parliament, by the French President and the British Prime Minister, and we received no response.' Guy Allemand, mayor of Sangatte, Calais, said: 'We continue to suffer without being listened to. 'We want to convey our daily experiences, but we feel scorned on the subject. 'This lack of consideration is causing anger — not to mention the doubts generated by this agreement.' Bertrand Ringot, mayor of Gravelines, added: 'The mayors must be heard because it's to us that the population is turning. 'We are hostages to this agreement.' He called for reception centres to be 'shared out' across France. Stéphane Pinto, mayor of Ambleteuse, said the need for the deal to be ratified by the European Commission — plus inevitable challenges from human rights lawyers — could mean it is years before it is implemented. 4 Lucy Moreton said: 'All staff are now being offered vaccinations against diphtheria. At least one person with a suspected case is coming across every day' Hotel for migrants' £28m tax cash haul By Thomas Godfrey and Rob Pattinson THE owners of a migrant hotel used by asylum seekers for black market food delivery work have raked in £28million of taxpayers' cash since getting a Home Office contract. It has helped bosses at the Thistle City Barbican hotel turn their business around, spinning a turnover of £330,000 in 2021 to £10million last year. It has also gone from a £5.3million loss to a £1million profit. The hotel's financial revival is put down to signing a contract with the Home Office in 2021, its accounts show. But it has also become a hotbed of crime with a string of occupants accused of serious offences. And a Sun investigation last month revealed asylum seekers were taking taxpayers for a ride by working from the hotel in London's financial district. It comes as we can reveal some residents have been up in court. They include Hamza Selha, 37, who was given a community order for attacking prison officers while living at the hotel. Last week Tesfit Bayu, 27, was given a 30-week suspended sentence for actual bodily harm in a punch-up last month. Former Tory security minister Sir John Hayes said: 'It's a nonsense to put people up in hotels that many of my constituents could not afford.' The hotel is owned by the Clermont Hotel Group, led by Gavin Taylor, 51. It declined to comment, saying the hotel was run under a 'private booking'.
The Sun
12-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Border Force staff in diphtheria alert after surge of cases among small boat migrants arriving in Britain
BORDER Force staff are being offered diphtheria jabs amid a surge of cases among Channel migrants arriving into Britain. Workers on the Dover frontline have been warned the highly contagious disease is becoming 'rampant' in the French camps where asylum seekers gather. 3 3 3 And there are fears of a repeat of 2022 when an outbreak at the Manston processing centre in Kent left one person dead and many others in hospital. Last night Border Force staff union chief Lucy Moreton said: 'All staff are now being offered vaccinations against diphtheria. At least one person with a suspected case is coming across every day. 'Migrants are medically assessed before being searched and anyone with symptoms is separated from the rest of the group. 'It's rampant in the crowded camps and spreading due to poor sanitation. But they are avoiding getting medical treatment while in France and instead wait to get treated when they come to the UK. 'One of the big draws to this country is the NHS. People are arriving every day who are motivated by getting medical treatment. Border Force staff are putting themselves at risk but most just see that as part of the job.' Most people in the UK are vaccinated against diphtheria, which attacks the respiratory system, as babies. But boosters can be given if the last jab was more than ten years ago. Europe is currently experiencing its largest diphtheria outbreak for 70 years. There have been two deaths and 536 cases across the continent since 2022, according to France's public health agency and medical research foundation Pasteur Institute. The contagion has mainly hit Afghan and Syrian migrants, with 98 per cent of infections in men with an average age of 18. Case of highly-contagious and deadly disease diphtheria confirmed at UK primary school with parents given urgent warning Adnan — a 21-year-old living in a tent in the squalid Loon-Plage camp after fleeing Syria — told The Sun on Sunday: 'Lots of people are ill. 'It goes around so easily because we live so close together and share the same facilities. 'Most of us are not protected as we're from poor countries. I worry about catching something which could kill me.' The Home Office confirmed that all Border Force staff are being encouraged to ensure they are up to date with the UK routine vaccination schedule. It goes around so easily because we live so close together and share the same facilities Adnan, a 21-year-old living in a tent in the squalid Loon-Plage camp after fleeing Syria It insisted all individuals arriving in the UK by small boats are assessed by healthcare professionals and any potential infectious diseases managed through established protocols. Meanwhile fears rose that there is nothing to stop small-boat migrants returned to France under the one-in, one-out deal from simply crossing the Channel again. They will be flown to Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris — already a vast travel hub for thousands of immigrants, including many who enter Europe illegally. The issue was highlighted by French mayors angry at the scheme hammered out by PM Sir Keir Starmer and President Emmanuel Macron. It is due to start with around 50 illegal migrants a week sent back to France in exchange for asylum seekers with proven family ties to Britain. So far this year at least 21,690 migrants have arrived by boat — around 1,000 a week. An Interior Ministry source in Paris who has studied the small print said: 'Once at the airport, it will be our responsibility to redirect the migrants to reception processing centres. 'They will stay there for a maximum of one month, where they can apply for asylum in France.' Technically, failed asylum seekers can be deported to their country of origin, or to the EU country where they first arrived. But the source said that even if this happens, 'nothing will prevent them from resuming their attempts to get to Britain'. Many will be processed in the greater Paris region — meaning they will still be close to the beaches of northern France. 'Hostages to agreement' The British Government argues that flights back to Paris will act as a deterrent, but the French capital is already a popular transit post for thousands hoping to reach the UK. Pierre-Edouard Davies, mayor of Wissant, near Calais, said: 'This is not going in the right direction. It is inhumane to choose migrants and send the others back to us. They are human beings — treating them like this is appalling and disrespectful. Migrants are medically assessed before being searched and anyone with symptoms is separated from the rest of the group. It's rampant in the crowded camps and spreading due to poor sanitation Lucy Moreton, Border Force staff union chief 'We asked to be heard by the British Parliament, by the French President and the British Prime Minister, and we received no response.' Guy Allemand, mayor of Sangatte, Calais, said: 'We continue to suffer without being listened to. 'We want to convey our daily experiences, but we feel scorned on the subject. 'This lack of consideration is causing anger — not to mention the doubts generated by this agreement.' Bertrand Ringot, mayor of Gravelines, added: 'The mayors must be heard because it's to us that the population is turning. 'We are hostages to this agreement.' He called for reception centres to be 'shared out' across France. Stéphane Pinto, mayor of Ambleteuse, said the need for the deal to be ratified by the European Commission — plus inevitable challenges from human rights lawyers — could mean it is years before it is implemented. Hotel for migrants' £28m tax cash haul By Thomas Godfrey and Rob Pattinson THE owners of a migrant hotel used by asylum seekers for black market food delivery work have raked in £28million of taxpayers' cash since getting a Home Office contract. It has helped bosses at the Thistle City Barbican hotel turn their business around, spinning a turnover of £330,000 in 2021 to £10million last year. It has also gone from a £5.3million loss to a £1million profit. The hotel's financial revival is put down to signing a contract with the Home Office in 2021, its accounts show. But it has also become a hotbed of crime with a string of occupants accused of serious offences. And a Sun investigation last month revealed asylum seekers were taking taxpayers for a ride by working from the hotel in London's financial district. It comes as we can reveal some residents have been up in court. They include Hamza Selha, 37, who was given a community order for attacking prison officers while living at the hotel. Last week Tesfit Bayu, 27, was given a 30-week suspended sentence for actual bodily harm in a punch-up last month. Former Tory security minister Sir John Hayes said: 'It's a nonsense to put people up in hotels that many of my constituents could not afford.' The hotel is owned by the Clermont Hotel Group, led by Gavin Taylor, 51. It declined to comment, saying the hotel was run under a 'private booking'.
The Sun
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Fears UK will be stuck with ‘known rapists' as one-in, one-out deal lets France decide which migrants it takes back
FRANCE will be able to choose which migrants to take back in the one-in, one-out deal - prompting fears that the UK will be stuck with dangerous criminals. The details of each migrant selected for return will be given to France, allowing it to reject those with a criminal record or deemed a security risk. 7 7 Both France and the UK will have a veto over which of the small boat migrants they take in. Britain will take into account if the migrants have a connection to the country and if they have lived here before. Lucy Moreton from the Immigration Service Union, one of two unions that represent Border Force staff, slammed the plan. She told The Times: "If we encounter someone we know from the databases we have access to is a known rapist, why would France have them back? He's our problem.' While saying it is a "good start" to tackling the small boats crisis, she warned that migrants will likely become more sneaky in their methods. Revealed in the Plan: Migrants arriving via small boat will be detained and returned to France in short order A one-in, one-out system will operate with migrants sent back to France in exchange for asylum seekers The plan is merely a pilot scheme - which could be canned if it doesn't work Only 50 a week will be sent packing - a fraction of the thousands crossing into the UK There may be an uptick in migrants stowing away in cars and lorries, or taking more dangerous routes into the country. Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron confirmed a one-in-one-out deal will return small boat migrants to France - but only 50 a week will be sent packing. The PM hailed the "groundbreaking" returns' scheme as "aggressive" - but admitted it was merely a pilot plan that would deal with just a fraction of the migrants trying to cross the Channel every day. Furious Farage blasts 'It's a national EMERGENCY' as Starmer reveals 'ridiculous' migrant deal In a joint press conference with the French President, Sir Keir confirmed that in exchange for sending unlawful migrants back, the UK will accept asylum seekers from Calais who have "legitimate claims" and family in Britain. Only those who haven't tried to enter the country illegally before will be eligible for the scheme, which will come into force "in weeks". The PM hailed the plan as "hard-headed, aggressive action" and boasted that "previous governments tried and failed to secure results like this". But the agreement is the equivalent of just 2,600 returns annually (50 a week), compared with the 44,000 who have arrived since Labour took power a year ago. And this year alone more than 21,117 migrants have crossed the Channel - a 56 per cent rise on the same period in 2024. The announcement was also made on the same day as hundreds more migrants crossed the Channel - with photos showing them waving from packed boats. And at the same time as The Sun's political correspondent watched in horror with Nigel Farage as the French handed 78 migrants to UK Border Force. At the Northwood Military Headquarters in Hertfordshire Sir Keir and Mr Macron insisted the deal would help break the business model of the smuggling gangs, with migrants unwilling to pay thousands for a crossing if they could be sent straight back. 7 7 But Sir Keir admitted the new deal won't necessarily end the crisis, saying: 'There is no silver bullet here". And it was revealed the plan could descend into a legal wrangle - with "returned" migrants able to launch lengthy battles through the courts. It means the system could get bogged down with ongoing legal cases - and the whole plan thwarted in the same way that Rwanda flights were grounded by lefty lawyers. Responding to the deal, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp blasted: 'Labour's deal will only return one in every 17 illegal immigrants arriving. "Allowing 94% of illegal immigrants to stay will make no difference whatsoever and have no deterrent effect. 'This is the latest catastrophic example that when Labour negotiates, the UK loses. 'Starmer's first move in power was to rip up the Illegal Migration Act, scrap the Rwanda deterrent plan, weaken age checks and reopen the path to citizenship for illegal migrants. This is a green light to people smugglers. 'We've had enough of Starmer's weak and ineffective gimmicks.' Under the "returns pilot", for the very first time, small boat migrants will be "detained and returned to France in short order". The selected migrants - all adults - will be handed notices informing them that they are due to be sent back to France. Money for the returns will come from existing Home Office budgets. In exchange for every return, a different asylum seeker will be allowed into Britain through a "safe route, controlled and legal, subject to strict security checks". Sir Keir said: 'This will show others trying to make the same journey that it will be in vain and the jobs they've been promised in the UK will no longer exist because of the nationwide crackdown we're delivering on illegal working, which is on a completely unprecedented scale.' Addressing the press conference, Mr Macron couldn't help a dig at Brexit, blaming the divorce from Europe, rather than lazy French cops, for the surge in channel crossings. Despite Britain having paid £770 million to border patrol officers in Calais, the French President whinged: 'We must above all adapt the response to Brexit. 'It's that we sold a lie to the British people which is the problem with Europe... The problems become Brexit with your government and for the first time in nine years we're providing a response.' The announcement of the deal concluded a three-day State Visit to the UK by Mr Macron, who also dined with King Charles and members of the royal family. 7 7
Telegraph
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Migrants turn from small boats to yachts
Border Force is struggling to keep up with the increasing number of migrants entering the country by yacht, a leading union has claimed. People smugglers are coming up with new ways to get migrants across the English Channel into the UK ahead of a change to the maritime rules in France that will allow border police and gendarmes to stop boats from leaving waters within 300 metres of their coastline. Private boats and trawlers are growing in popularity as an ' easy and low-risk' route for bringing illegal migrants to the UK. Some 17,817 migrants have arrived so far this year, up 40 per cent on last year and the highest to this point in the year since the first arrivals in 2018. Lucy Moreton, from the ISU, which represents Border Force staff, said there simply is not enough resources to keep up with demand. 'It is a growing issue as the small-boat route becomes more challenged. It's something we have started monitoring more, but we simply do not have the staff to do everything,' she added. 'Most of the ports in the UK do not have a Border Force officer working at them so it comes down to the local police and the public. The system of boat ownership is very hard to monitor.' In April, Border Force officials intercepted a yacht off the Cornish coast and discovered 20 people hiding below deck. The 19 men and one woman, all thought to be Albanian nationals, were trying to enter the UK illegally. They were detained pending deportation, the Home Office said, and three men were arrested. About 437 migrants crossed the Channel on Friday in seven small boats, Home Office figures revealed. The number of migrants who have crossed the Channel this year now far surpasses that of previous years. By June 20 2024, 12,313 migrants had made the journey, compared to 10,518 in 2023 and 11,690 in 2022. The figures come after The Telegraph reported migrants had vowed they would 'never give up' trying to reach Britain, despite the stricter measures set to come into force in France. Jamal, a 24-year-old Sudanese man, said: 'If the police stop us in the water when we try to reach the boats, then we will go back to the beach the next day or the next week. We'll never give up.' Until now, the French have refused to intervene in the water because they claim maritime laws prevent them from taking action that could put lives at sea at risk. But the new strategy will see 'taxi boats' packed with migrants intercepted in shallow waters off Channel beaches. When The Telegraph visited Calais on Friday, there were signs that French police were taking a more interventionist approach in the migrant crisis, in response to criticism by the British Government. On Tuesday, No 10 admitted that the migrant crisis was 'deteriorating'. A spokesman said: 'Migration should be a key focus given the deteriorating situation in the Channel, they confirmed, adding that they should continue to work closely with other partners to find innovative ways to drive forward progress.'
