LONDON: Britain is becoming one of most ‘attractive’ countries in the world for illegal immigrants, experts warn as Home Office reveals that almost 100 stowaways are being caught a day.
The number of times migrants have been caught trying to enter Britain illegally has almost quadrupled over the past three years and reached nearly 3,000 a month, according to official figures.
The Home Office on Thursday disclosed that 11,920 entry attempts were detected at Calais and British ports in the first four months of this year alone equivalent to almost 100 a day.
Migration experts said that Britain is one of the most “attractive” destinations for migrants in the World and suggested that many more illegal immigrants are likely to have successfully made it into Britain.
The figures were published after John Vine, the chief inspector of borders, warned that the Home Office is failing “get the basics right” on immigration in the wake of a series of damning reports.
Earlier this year hundreds of migrants tried to force their way onto ships bound for Britain forcing boats to lock their doors, raise their ramps and even use fire hoses to force them back.
Lord Green of Deddington, the chairman of Migrationwatch, said: “The sharp rise in the number of clandestines might reflect more effective detection but an increase on this scale is more likely to be due to increased pressure on our borders.
“Part of that may be due to deteriorating conditions in the Middle East and Africa but there is little doubt that the freedom of our society, the existence of a black market in labour and the presence of relatives and friends add up to making the UK a very attractive destination.
“The government are seeking to make it more difficult to live in Britain illegally but it will take some time for recent measures to take effect.”
Experts said that migrants were attracted by Britain’s unregulated labour market, the ability to get free health care on the NHS and relatively generous welfare system.
Once immigrants from African countries have made their way into Europe, they can travel across borders without needing to show passports or identity cards to France.
In Calais more than 2,500 migrants, mainly from African countries such as Eritrea, are camped around the town. Many are prepared to risk their own lives in an attempt to enter Britain.