Channel crossing tragedy: Priti Patel offers joint patrols with France – latest updates | world News

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In the wake of yesterday’s devastating tragedy in the Canal, the UK government must urgently take decisive action to prevent further loss of life.

The UK should make it a priority to share the responsibility with other countries to receive people into its asylum system – they should do so by providing safe and legal routes and encouraging others to do the same.

We must remember that dangerous journeys happen because the government does not provide a safe alternative for people to exercise their right to seek asylum here.

The Afghanistan resettlement scheme is one example of the government’s fundamental failure to provide safe roads – a scheme announced in August and yet to be opened – ministers cannot even guarantee it will open anytime soon.

The UK’s failure to play its role in providing protection to people fleeing conflict and persecution is all the more distressing at a time when the Home Office is trying to pass tough citizenship and border law. This new policy will worsen the asylum system and will continue to punish and exclude people who seek safety.

If the government is really interested in tackling these gangs and their mistreatment of people, they should create safe asylum routes, so that people do not need to rely on smugglers.

We urgently need a new approach to asylum – including genuine Anglo-French efforts to devise safe asylum routes, an overhaul of the painfully slow application system, an end to the use of dangerous and inappropriate accommodation facilities like Napier Barracks, and a political approach based on true humanity.

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