GB News presenter Mark White met with Border Force agents.
Mark White was live on the scene (Image: GB News)
GB News was halted for an unprecedented update on illegal migrants crossing the English Channel from France, with presenter Mark White investigating how “small” boats have grown in size in recent years. The channel’s home and security editor met with Border Force officials to see the vessels for himself.
He told viewers: “Back in 2018 this was the kind of boat that you would see coming across the English Channel, about two metres long, often stolen from the harbours along the French coast. Today, though, they’re made to measure. This boat here shows the absurdity of the term small boats, because it’s anything but.”
A large black inflatable boat was shown on camera, with a Border Force spokeswoman explaining that the bottoms often fall right out of each boat, while glue holding ropes onto the sides can easily disintegrate on rough seas.
White said: “It’s 10 metres long, this one, maybe a little bit more. These boats themselves can hold often up to 80 or 90 migrants on that journey across from France.
“Inside you see the kind of items that the people smugglers put on board – tyre inner tubes that they use as life jackets, cut up canisters to scoop out the water when it starts to fill up.
Migrants have died making the perilous journey (Image: Getty)
“These boats are obviously far from safe. With many migrants crammed on board, these flimsy vessels can quickly disintegrate.”
Viewers were left fuming on social media, with one tweeting: “They’re not smashing the gangs. Maybe one or two, but another pops up.”
Someone else said: “The government probably sends them back to Calais ready for the next influx!”