Social media blitz to warn migrants against UK voyage

Migrants sit onboard a boat navigating in agitated waters between Sangatte and Cap Blanc-Nez (Cape White Nose), in the English Channel off the coast of northern France

Credit: AFP

Channel migrants are to be warned to remain where they are in Home Office social media posts "geo-targeted" at them in France.

The first social media advertisements, to be posted on Wednesday, will warn people they will be prosecuted for steering a migrant boat and risk death.

They will also be warned they face being returned to Europe, that their asylum bid stands no better chance in Britain than the rest of Europe, and that they will get no benefits or work while they wait for their application to be processed.

The messages will be translated into the five languages most commonly spoken by Channel migrants and posted on the biggest social media sites, including Facebook and Instagram.

Home Office officials said they would geo-target migrants in near-border locations to deter them away from dangerous attempts to get to Britain.

It will also provide information on alternative safe options, including claiming asylum in the country where they currently are.

Dan O’Mahoney, the clandestine Channel threat commander, said: "We are determined to make this route completely unviable and are working tirelessly to stop migrants from coming to the UK illegally, at every step of their journey.

"Criminals are exploiting vulnerable people for profit and are selling false dreams of life in the UK. This new campaign will aim to dissuade migrants from making this dangerous and unnecessary journey.

"This campaign will build on our work with the French to stop people leaving French beaches and dismantle people smuggling gangs, while also fixing the asylum system to make it firmer on those who seek to abuse it and fairer on those in genuine need of our help," he added.

The campaign will also warn the migrants that the UK asylum process is no better, and gives no advantages over the French, Belgian or other EU member states’ asylum processes.

It will also say that if migrants make it to Britain, we will seek to return those with no right to be there.

And they will be told that they are unlikely to be able to work for the 12 months or more they may have to wait for their asylum application to be processed, during which time they will be unable to claim benefits.