The number of Albanians travelling to the UK by small boats has significantly reduced due to the government's new crackdown measures. From January to March of this year, only 5% of small
boat crossings were Albanian, a drastic reduction from the 28% of 45,755 small boat crossings made last year. The winter season has seen a dramatic fall-off in Channel migrants reaching the UK by sea, with very small numbers in recent weeks. This development is attributed to the new measures, which include a new high-tech sentry tower erected by Border Force officials in Dover. The tower, which is 30ft tall and equipped with cameras that can track up to 12 miles out to sea, as well as radar and infrared antennae, is part of a new surveillance system to spot and intercept migrant boats before they reach British shores.
The reduction in the number of Albanians crossing the channel by small boats is being seen as a vindication of the government's tough moves to deny boat migrants the right to claim asylum. It is worth noting that the drop could also be due to the decision by would-be migrants to opt for travelling by lorry instead. However, the government has also deported 500 Albanians who entered the UK illegally since Rishi Sunak agreed to a fast-track returns deal last December with his Albanian counterpart, Edi Rama. Additionally, a readmission agreement led to the deportation of 2,478 Albanians between July and September 2022.
Anduril, a US defence firm, has also helped in the crackdown with their surveillance tower overlooking the Channel. The MoD entered into a £3.8 million contract with Anduril in 2021, although it is not known if the Dover tower is from the MoD deal.
The reduction in the number of Albanians crossing the Channel by small boats is a positive development for the UK government. It is a testament to their efforts to deter boat migrants from entering the country illegally. The new measures put in place, such as the sentry tower and deportation agreements, have been effective in deterring illegal crossings. The reduction in the number of crossings is also a relief to the UK public, who have expressed concerns over the safety of those crossing the Channel and the strain on resources as a result of illegal immigration. The government must continue to enforce these measures to ensure that illegal crossings do not become a persistent problem. Photo by Silva.arapi, Wikimedia commons.