French set to close 'jungle' camp

Sep 22 2009

French police are expected to move in to clear the immigrant camp in Calais known as `the jungle`, and detain about 1,500 mainly Afghan asylum seekers.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said he was "delighted" about the impending closure of the camp.

Britain has ruled out taking them in, and Mr Johnson said genuine refugees should apply for asylum in the country where they entered the EU.

Those who are not escaping persecution should return home, he said. Speaking after talks in Brussels with his French counterpart Eric Besson, Mr Johnson said reports that Britain could be "forced" to take illegal immigrants were "wrong". EU justice commissioner Jacques Barrot has demanded a change in European law to allow a "significant number" to be fast-tracked into Britain, it was reported.

Mr Johnson said: "I met today with Eric Besson at the Justice and Home Affairs council in Brussels to discuss the issue of illegal immigrants in northern France. I stressed the importance to our joint relationship of closing the 'jungle' at Calais and was delighted to be told that France is honouring our July agreement in Evian by closing the camp by the end of the week.

"The UK has a robust system for dealing with both asylum seekers and immigration and provides protection to those who are genuinely in need. Reports that the UK will be forced to take illegal immigrants from the 'jungle' are wrong. Both countries are committed to helping individuals who are genuine refugees, who should apply for protection in the first safe country that they reach. We expect those who are not in need of protection to return home."

Dan Hodges, from charity Refugee Action, described the jungle as a "disgrace". He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "It is quite right that it should be shut down. But while it is possible to sweep away the camp, you can't simply sweep away the problem. The time has come for the French authorities to meet up to their obligation to those who have fled to their territory seeking sanctuary."

Keith Best, chief executive of the Immigration Advisory Service charity, warned that shutting the camp would simply shift the problem to another part of Calais.

He said: "I remember seven years ago when (former) home secretary David Blunkett and the then French minister of the interior Nicolas Sarkozy congratulated themselves on the closure of the Red Cross centre at Sangatte, but the hundreds of asylum seekers merely moved to the dockside of Calais. The liquidation of the jungle will have the same transitory effect.

"What is needed is a commitment by the French authorities at all levels to admit asylum seekers to their procedures promptly. At present it is very difficult to claim asylum in France as those to whom I spoke admitted. The French are not playing their part in allowing people to claim asylum in Calais, despite their obligation under the Refugee Convention."