The UK government plans to end disclosing the daily tally of migrants crossing the English Channel after the number of people arriving in small boats hit record levels last year.
The daily tally supplied by the Home Office – which led to embarrassing headlines for the government – will end when the military takes control of policing the waterway, according to reports.
The tally will be replaced by quarterly statistics in a move that was described as undemocratic by a prominent ruling party MP.
The number of people who crossed last year trebled compared with the previous year to hit more than 28,000. The numbers have proved embarrassing for Home Secretary Priti Patel, who pledged in 2019 to make the crossings an “infrequent phenomenon” and the following year to make the route unviable.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was said to have been exasperated by the failure to reduce numbers despite paying France millions of pounds for improved security on its northern coastline.
Ms Patel confirmed at the weekend plans to bring in the UK’s defence ministry to run the operation in the coming weeks.
She had been facing legal and potential strike action from border staff angered by her plans to push back some migrant vessels into French waters as part of a continuing tough response against migrants.
The government said the measures were designed to tackle organised criminal gangs running operations between northern Europe and the UK in unsuitable small boats. At least 27 people died in November when one capsized.
Some view the move as a reputation management exercise.
The numbers crossing in January are already significantly up compared with last year.
MP Tim Loughton told The Times newspaper: “I’m concerned about the proposed restriction of data on the numbers coming across the Channel because that doesn’t deal with the underlying problem. And I think the British public have a right to know how much of an issue this remains on a day-to-day basis.”
The Home Office said it was committed to providing a “clear and transparent picture” of small boat arrivals in the UK and the final details of the proposed changes were being thrashed out with the UK Statistics Authority.
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- Trees: 1,500 to be planted, replacing 300 felled ones, with veteran oaks protected
- Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
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- Flood risk: Longer grass, deeper lake, restored ponds and absorbent paths all meant to siphon off water
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
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Scores
New Zealand 266 for 9 in 50 overs
Pakistan 219 all out in 47.2 overs
New Zealand win by 47 runs
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• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
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Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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7pm: Abu Dhabi - Conditions (PA) Dh 80,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.30pm: Dubai - Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,400m
8pm: Sharjah - Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,600m
8.30pm: Ajman - Handicap (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 2,200m
9pm: Umm Al Quwain - The Entisar - Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 2,000m
9.30pm: Ras Al Khaimah - Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m
10pm: Fujairah - Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,200m
