Priti Patel has been accused of hiding bad news amid government plans to end publication of Channel migration figures daily.
The Home Office is currently releasing the data once arrivals have been processed and confirmed by the UK Border Force. This usually happens the day after. But, the Home Office could cease to issue the data if the Ministry of Defence takes over operations to capture migrants.
According to the UK Statistics Authority, they raised concerns over the way that migrant numbers were released. However, not publishing them would open ministers up to being accused of hiding crucial information.
According to a Home Office source, the agency is currently evaluating advice from the authority in order “to present clearly the overall trends and the total number of small boats that have arrived”
The department is now set to release the figures every three months, but the move has drawn criticism from Tory MPs – with one saying it ‘seems more like burying bad news than being transparent about crossings’, The Telegraph reports.
Unidentified Conservative added: “It looks like covering up. No doubt journalists will create their own figures, based upon people arriving at Tughaven.” [the migrant processing centre in Dover]Freedom of Information request.
Priti Patel is accused of hiding bad news. The government plans to stop the publication of daily Channel migrants figures
Official statistics show that more migrants have entered Britain in this month’s than any other time since January. UK authorities have intercepted more than 950 migrants so far this year – more than three times the 223 in January 2021. The Channel intercepted 28381 individuals last year, while only 8,410 were in 2020.
Officials from the Border Force bring migrants onto Dover Harbour, after they arrive in Speedwell (January 19).
And Tory MP for Dover, Natalie Elphicke, said: ‘This is not a statistical exercise – this is a serious crisis where people are exploited by criminal gangs on a daily basis and lives are tragically lost. It is vital to have daily figures in order to monitor the progress made towards tackling this crisis.
The announcement that the Army would build camps to accommodate up to 30,000. Channel migrants was made public last month.
For soldiers who wish to build temporary accommodation on Ministry of Defence land in the UK, plans are being made.
It is expected that the project will cost in excess of tens to millions of pounds. Priti Patel (Home Secretary) has told Tory MPs privately that the work for the first phase of the project is scheduled to commence within weeks.
Sources close to government claim that the program will cost less than current accommodations for migrants. Thousands have been placed in hotels with full-board at three and four star resorts.
Ministers believe that the transition to temporary housing-style accommodation on military bases will act deterrentively against migrants who plan to cross the Channel.
A Whitehall insider stated that accommodation would be built at several bases across the country as part of the new network.
We believe that it will deter criminals. After the project is completed, people will live in prefabricated temporary buildings rather than in hotels in the middle of town.
Although exact locations are not known, a secure new site was opened at Manston MoD Site in Kent for the initial processing of Channel migrants.
Although it was initially established to shelter illegal immigrants in the UK for up to five working days, its current role is to offer longer-term housing.
The Government also hired planning consultants for applications to the Napier barracks at Folkestone.
Since September 2020, it has been home to up to 350 refugees. Ministers intend to maintain the facility until at most 2025. Sources confirm that Napier’s capacity is going to be increased under this new project.
Napier’s criticism of billing migrants to MoD sites has made it controversial.
Last month, an all-party parliamentary panel described the base in a report. It compared it with ‘quasidetention’ and said that there were ‘appalling conditions’.
According to a Government source, the MoD would be responsible for housing migrants arriving in their country. It is possible that this will require the construction of additional barracks and other similar spaces to Napier.
“We are trying to lower the number of asylum seekers staying in hotels. This is currently more than we want.”
The Home Office plans to allow up to 65,000 Channel arrivals in the worst-case scenario.
The number of migrants who arrived in Britain this year was nearly 28,400, compared to 8,410 for 2020. More than 940 have been intercepted by UK authorities so far this month – more than four times the figure in January last year.
It does not include arrivals yesterday – which are thought to number around 25.