Migration madness as shocking radio message exposes France's real plans

Britain's Border Force has been asked by the French Navy if it can return life jackets given to , according to a report. Officials on both sides are said to have been exposed talking about handing back the life-saving gear in a leaked audio recording.

A person on board Border Force's Typhoon vessel can be heard telling officials they can arrange the return of the life jackets, according to . The French Navy can then reportedly be heard confirming 34 migrants were on board, adding they will be able to return the equipment.

The same outlet then transcribes the audio with Border Force saying "once everyone is on board" the life jackets will be returned to the French by a UK rib or one of France's. The Home Office was approached for comment.

It comes after a fisherman told Times Radio in what he supposed was an attempt to avoid "another tragedy" in the Channel.

Coker Seafishing owner, Ben Coker, told the station the French have escorted migrants through the busy shipping lane.

He said: "They're only making half the journey. It's safer to cross the Channel now because you'll have an escort and you'll only have to make half the journey as UK Border Force will be waiting to pick you up. It seems to be encouraging the problem."

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp described the French "actively facilitating illegal immigrants" to cross the Channel as "shameful".

An unnamed senior Interior Ministry source in France told the "everything is done to prevent nautical equipment falling into the hands of people smugglers, and those on the illegal crossings they organise".

They were quoted by the same publication as saying: "There would be no possibility of equipment such as life jackets being provided - this would be illegal, and also encourage the crossings."

A spokesman for France's North Sea maritime prefecture told the : "Depending on the assessment of the situation on small boats, French maritime authorities can distribute life jackets."

He told the publication it is "not systematic" and depends on an assessment of the risks and benefits of the situation and the cooperation of the people being helped.

The spokesman added: "It is often in emergency situations, either due to the conditions of the vessel or weather conditions. It can be when some people wish to be rescued and others wish to continue in difficult conditions.

"British and French authorities work in an intelligent fashion to recover and recycle life jackets. There can be exchanges between boats or periodic handovers."

As of Tuesday (April 8), some 6,796 people were recorded as having made the journey to the UK after crossing the English Channel so far this year, according to Home Office figures.

This is up 25% on the same point last year (5,435) and a 49% increase on 2023 (4,563), according to analysis of the data by the PA news agency.

The data shows more than 30,000 arrivals since Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister in July, despite the Government's attempts to crack down on people smuggling gangs.

Pictures showing people in life jackets disembarking from Border Force and RNLI boats in Dover also emerged on Tuesday.

The crossings came amid fair weather at sea and not long after 154 people were recorded as arriving on UK shores in four boats last Friday (April 4).