UK to send officials to Sangatte centre

Britain is preparing to send officials to the
Red Cross centre at Sangatte, Calais, to help to reduce the number
of asylum-seekers leaving it to get into Britain.

The officials will work with the International
Organisation for Migration, supported by French services, to
provide realistic information. The aim is to deter economic
migrants from trying to enter Britain.

The decision follows a meeting last week
between home office minister David Blunkett and French interior
minister Daniel Vaillant. Both sides agreed that action was
necessary to stop the flow of people into Sangatte. A joint
statement said: “We have agreed to work together to bring forward a
new package of measures to deter people trafficking.”