Sajid Javid asks for Royal Navy vessel to deter migrant Channel crossings
The request from the home secretary signals a further escalation of the UK's response and comes as two people are arrested.
Thursday 3 January 2019 10:21, UK
Home Secretary Sajid Javid has written to Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson requesting a Royal Navy vessel to patrol the English Channel to deter migrant crossings, Sky News understands.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the offshore patrol vessel HMS Mersey was "available and ready to be deployed.
A spokesperson said the armed forces "stand ready to provide additional capacity and expertise to assist the Home Office with the response to migrant crossings".
The request from Mr Javid signals a further escalation of the UK's response to the migrant situation after he announced the redeployment of two Border Force cutters from the Mediterranean earlier this week.
According to The Daily Telegraph, discussions are still ongoing about whether the Home Office or the Ministry or Defence should foot the £20,000-a-day bill for the cost of the Royal Navy vessel.
The home secretary has also reportedly requested dozens of sailors and aerial surveillance to put a stop to the crossings.
It comes after a British man and an Iranian national were detained on suspicion of helping migrants to cross the English Channel into the UK.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed the arrests in Manchester in a statement, saying: "NCA officers have tonight (2 January 2019) arrested a 33-year-old Iranian national and a 24-year-old British man in Manchester, on suspicion of arranging the illegal movement of migrants across the English Channel into the UK.
"As the investigation is ongoing, we are unable to comment further at this time."
Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Javid questioned whether migrants using small boats to cross the Channel were "genuine" asylum seekers.
Speaking during a visit to Dover, he said: "A question has to be asked: if you are a genuine asylum seeker why have you not sought asylum in the first safe country that you arrived in?
"Because France is not a country where anyone would argue it is not safe in anyway whatsoever, and if you are genuine then why not seek asylum in your first safe country?"
The home secretary's comments have been criticised by opposition MPs and charities, with many pointing out that the UK has to assess asylum claims fairly.