The UK government’s current approach to tackling illegal immigration across the English Channel is deeply flawed and results in preventable tragedies. By focusing solely on “smashing the gangs” that provide the dinghies, the government ignores the root cause of the issue: the incentives and systems that encourage migrants to risk their lives in the first place.

Breaking up smuggling networks does not stop the crossings; these gangs are swiftly replaced. What drives these perilous journeys are the promises of a better life once in the UK—luxury accommodation in hotels, financial support, mobile phones, food, heating, and minimal risk of deportation due to the shocking backlog in processing asylum claims.

Why is the government not enforcing laws against illegal entry? Entering the UK without valid documentation is a crime, yet those who do so are often rewarded with comforts rather than detained. Why aren’t migrants being held securely while their cases are processed?

Furthermore, the cost of housing migrants in hotels and providing them with support is likely running into billions of pounds annually. If the UK does not have the resources to process asylum seekers efficiently, why not outsource this function to a country capable of doing so at a lower cost? A system like this could also disincentivise dangerous journeys.

The blame for every life lost in the Channel lies not with the smugglers alone but with the Prime Minister and his government. The incentives they offer and their inability to manage this crisis effectively are fuelling these tragedies.

We call on the government to:

1. Enforce existing laws against illegal entry and ensure migrants are detained while their claims are assessed.
2. Reform the asylum system to process claims swiftly and deport individuals without valid claims.
3. Outsource asylum processing if necessary to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
4. Address the root causes of Channel crossings by removing the incentives that encourage dangerous journeys.

This is a humanitarian crisis, a financial burden on taxpayers, and a failing of government responsibility. Lives are being lost, and urgent reform is needed.