{"id":57482,"date":"2026-03-13T05:52:34","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T09:52:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/minister-in-belgium-after-migrant-boat-launches\/13\/03\/2026\/"},"modified":"2026-03-13T05:52:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T09:52:34","slug":"minister-in-belgium-after-migrant-boat-launches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/minister-in-belgium-after-migrant-boat-launches\/13\/03\/2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Minister in Belgium after migrant boat launches"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A UK government minister has held talks in Belgium on tackling people smuggling following recent attempts to launch small boats from Belgian beaches.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Minister for Border Security and Asylum Alex Norris described Belgium as a key ally in tackling the global challenge of illegal migration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The visit comes after police recently told the BBC they were <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/c0q3pey2lpqo?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Byahoo.north.america%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:stepping up patrols;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;stepping up patrols&quot;}\" class=\"link \">stepping up patrols<\/a> following attempts by smugglers to target the Belgian coast, away from the main launch sites in France.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Home Office said it was working with international partners to drive down small boat crossings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">On Thursday Norris met Interior Minister Bernard Quintin and Asylum and Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt to discuss illegal migration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;We have a history of brilliant law enforcement cooperation to put the criminal smuggling gangs where they belong \u2013 behind bars,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;This government will continue to work closely with international partners as we restore order and control to UK borders.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">There has been more focus on Belgium as a departure point in recent weeks after small boat activity in coastal towns including De Panne, Koksijde and Nieuwpoort.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Local police suggested the recent rise was because of increased pressure on smugglers in France.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Officials said boat launches had previously been limited because the Channel crossing is longer from Belgium.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Belgian Federal Police said it was stepping up patrols, both on land and at sea, as well as from the air with the deployment of the Frontex aircraft.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Deputy police chief Christian De Ridder on patrol in the coastal town of De Panne [BBC]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The small number of recent launches off Belgium involved so called &#8216;taxi-boats&#8217;, which pick up migrants in the sea before heading along the coast to France.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Speaking to the BBC earlier this month, retired Dover coastguard Andy Roberts said he was concerned about the health risks for those attempting longer journeys from the Belgian coastline.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;The majority of migrants wade out to the boats that take them, so they&#8217;re soaking wet up to their chest before they even set off,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/articles\/cwyxzw1w14go?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Byahoo.north.america%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Click here to see the BBC interactive;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Click here to see the BBC interactive&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Click here to see the BBC interactive<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Tony Smith, the former director general of the UK Border Force, told BBC South East the smugglers were always looking for new tactics.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Smuggling gangs are quite happy to move their operations, to try and avoid any patrols either by the French or the Belgian police,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;It&#8217;s obviously still quite a sophisticated operation that&#8217;s going on over there.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Andy Roberts is standing on a Kent beach with a boat behind him on the shingle.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"539\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/V3xmT.XuA36LEfhb9qAu_Q--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTUzOTtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/bbc_us_articles_995\/a0b756352bdb7a5d7ebf7dd8cbc3e126\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Former coastguard Andy Roberts says the crossing from Belgium is longer, adding to the danger [BBC]<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In recent years the UK government has assisted the Belgian authorities with technology such as drones to help track smugglers along the coast.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Resources are also being used to try to prevent migrants stowing away on cross-channel freight.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Home Office said there have been investments of around \u00a34m over the past two years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">It said this had led to the establishment of a control room in the Port of Zeebrugge, which enables private security in the port to respond immediately to security breaches.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Funding also continues towards shared patrols to search containers and vehicles using Border Force officers, dog teams, security infrastructure in and around the port and equipment for Belgian officers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Government figures show 41,262 people crossed the Channel in small boats last year &#8211; the vast majority from France &#8211; a 13% increase in a year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The figure remains lower than the peak of 45,774 in 2022.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Between 1 January and 9 March 2026, 3,409 people made the crossing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The government has pledged to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/c9dqqj0v1ndo?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Byahoo.north.america%5D-%5Blink%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:&quot;smash the smuggling gangs&quot;;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;&amp;quot&quot;}\" class=\"link \">&#8220;smash the smuggling gangs&#8221; <\/a> in order to reduce the numbers crossing in small boats.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, external, on X, external, and on Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk, external or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">More on this story<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/news\/articles\/minister-belgium-migrant-boat-launches-091515883.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A UK government minister has held talks in Belgium on tackling people smuggling following recent attempts to launch small boats from Belgian<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/minister-in-belgium-after-migrant-boat-launches\/13\/03\/2026\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":57483,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/os\/en\/bbc_us_articles_995\/f9234275844325850f300e0381a020b2","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57482"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57482"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57482\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/57483"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57482"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57482"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57482"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}