Nato summit fences sent to Calais in attempt to block illegal immigrants

Immigration minister James Brokenshire said the fence will send a message that Britain is no soft touch for migrants.

The numbers of migrants have recently increased, sparking clashes between rival groups prompting the Mayor of Calais to appeal for more help with the trouble.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph Mr Brokenshire said it is up to the French to maintain security and order on their own land, but added that the UK would do what it could to help - recalling a 3 million boost to the port earlier this year to improve security.

Clashes: migrants wait for a food distribution by charity NGO in Calais, northern France (Picture: Getty) The minister said the new fencing would replace the "inadequate" fencing currently in place, and added that a hope would be to create secure parking for legal travellers to wait without the threat of hassle from any disruption.

In a stark warning to would-be illegal immigrants Mr Brokenshire said they "should be under no illusion about what awaits them if they arrive here illegally".

He said the Immigration Act ensures those who should not be in Britain will not get benefits, housing, bank accounts or driving licences, and added that criminal gangs who traffic people to the port on the promise of a better life will be investigated and broken up.

Mr Brokenshire said: "Effective solutions must involve co-operation, not confrontation.

"But in working with our international partners, I am, of course ever mindful of our responsibilities on this side of the Channel, chief of which is the need for an immigration system that is fair to British citizens and legitimate migrants and tough on those who flout the law."

Yesterday former home secretary Lord Howard of Lympne said France needs to "get its act together" and deal with the growing numbers of asylum seekers in Calais rather than blaming Britain.

He told BBC Radio 4'S Today programme normal protocol is that asylum seekers apply to stay in the first safe country they reach.

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Nato summit fences sent to Calais in attempt to block illegal immigrants