Are Migrants Genuine Asylum Seekers
The home secretary has questioned whether migrants using small boats to cross the English Channel are "genuine" asylum seekers.
Speaking during a visit to Dover, Sajid Javid said: "A question has to be asked: if you are a genuine asylum seeker why have you not sought asylum in the first safe country that you arrived in?
"Because France is not a country where anyone would argue it is not safe in anyway whatsoever, and if you are genuine then why not seek asylum in your first safe country?"
The home secretary suggested those picked up by the UK authorities could have their asylum requests denied in a bid to prevent others from attempting the same journey.
Mr Javid also defended declaring the situation a "major incident".
He said 539 people had crossed the Straits in 2018, with 80% making the journey in the last three months of the year.
The home secretary said in "almost every case" those crossing went on to seek asylum in the UK.
After talks with high-level officials on Monday, Mr Javid redeployed two cutters from overseas to operate alongside HMC Vigilant, which is already operating off the South coast.
