Migrants will be presented with distressing visuals of destroyed dinghies and individuals struggling in frigid waters to discourage them from attempting the perilous Channel crossing in small boats.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has approved the use of graphic images not typically seen in ad campaigns, which will be displayed to asylum seekers in France.
A newly designed leaflet showcases a picture of an asylum seeker fighting to stay above water, with the message: “Don’t waste your money. Don’t risk your life. Don’t cross the Channel.”
Another leaflet warns: “People are trampled and crushed to death in overcrowded boats. Many children have lost their lives this way. By boarding a boat, you could inadvertently cause harm to others, even a child.”
The Home Secretary is gearing up to introduce extensive reforms to the immigration and asylum system next week to minimize incentives for coming to the UK and streamline the process of deporting illegal migrants.
Ms. Mahmood is anticipated to draw inspiration from Denmark’s stringent system, which enforces stricter regulations on family reunions and permits most refugees only temporary stays.
As the Government grapples with reducing the number of individuals undertaking the risky Channel journey to Britain in flimsy vessels, the UK strives to deter such attempts by highlighting the hazards of crossing in overcrowded and unsafe crafts.
Since 2019, more than 160 people have tragically lost their lives while trying to make the treacherous crossing.
Unscrupulous people smugglers are increasingly cramming more passengers into fewer boats, resulting in passengers being crushed and trampled on.
Border Security Minister Alex Norris emphasized, “Those seeking to enter the UK illegally must face the harsh reality: crossing in a small boat may lead to fatalities for you and your loved ones.”
Campaign leaflets produced by the UK are being distributed to migrants in France as part of a joint initiative with the UK and French Governments.
In September, large digital billboards with cautionary messages were installed in northern France along key routes utilized by smugglers to access the beaches.
