Joint UK/French police command centre to tackle illegal migration

A new command and control centre combining the skills and expertise of UK and French police officers is to be established in Calais in an attempt to combat the rising number of illegal migrants.

The centre has been announced as part a joint declaration reinforcing co-operation between the UK and France in tackling illegal migration.

It aims to find and disrupt organised criminals who attempt to smuggle migrants illegally into Northern France and across the Channel by ensuring intelligence and enforcement work is more joined up and collaborative.

British police officers will be overseen by two Gold Commanders – one British and one French, while Border Force personnel will also be liaising with officers from both countries.

A Home Office spokesperson said discussions relating to how many officers will be deployed, which forces they will be drawn from and who will be funding the cost of deployment are ongoing and will be revealed in due course.

The new Gold Command will provide regular reports to both French Interior Minister Bernard Cazenueve and Home Secretary Theresa May.

The command will be closely supported by the existing British joint intelligence unit in Folkestone, which already includes French law enforcement personnel.

In a declaration signed by Mrs May and Mr Cazenueve today (August 20) in Calais the two governments have agreed to take the following steps:

•Supplement the existing deployment of French police and gendarmes through extra mobile French policing units;

•Invest UK resources in making the perimeter of the Eurotunnel railhead secure through high quality fencing, CCTV, flood lighting and infrared detection technology; and

•Create a new integrated control room covering the Eurostar railheads at Coquelles bringing in intelligence feeds to give police a comprehensive picture to base operational deployments.

Speaking to the BBC, Mrs May said the new command and control centre would “relentlessly pursue and disrupt the callous criminal gangs that facilitate and profit from the smuggling of vulnerable people”.