Stowaways try other routes
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m Fears are growing that illegal immigrants and smuggling gangs may be switching their attentions to ports in Normandy. This follows increased vigilance at Calais where CO2 gas checks are making life difficult for potential stowaways—though these checks are net foolproof (CM 25-31 Jan).
In the past week 32 would-be immigrants have been found about to board Portsmouth-bound ferries in the Normandy port of Ouistreham, including 22 in a single truck. This brings the number of asylum seekers arrested at Ouistreham to 76 In less than a month. Only five arrests were made in the same period last year, with a total of 129 for the whole of 2000.
Despite these figures, French authorities are planning to scale down the number of immigration police stationed at some Normandy ports.