Functioning asylum system would deter migrant Channel crossings, says NCA boss

An asylum system that works “quickly and effectively” would deter migrant Channel crossings, the head of the National Crime Agency (NCA) said.Graeme Biggar discussed what could help to curb the dangerous journeys as the law enforcement agency repeated concerns of this being a “persistent and high-volume threat”.The number of people attempting the journey from France, alongside tactics from people smugglers which see migrants “wading out to boats or transferring from taxi boats”, has “increased the likelihood of fatalities”, the NCA’s threat assessment said.The International Organisation for Migration, which records Channel crossing deaths as part of its Missing Migrant Project, estimates 226 people including 35 children are missing or have died after attempting the crossing as of January this year.According to the French coastguard, there have been at least 19 deaths in 2024, including nine since the start of July. Last year, 12 migrants are thought to have died or were recorded as missing.