Suella Braverman, the UK Home Secretary’s comments earlier this week, describing the arrival of migrants in the UK as an “invasion on our southern coast," during a heated exchange in Parliament over conditions at the Manston migrant processing centre in Kent were viewed as “distasteful’ and “inflammatory” by many; but by some were seen as an honest appraisal of the UK’s issues with illegal migration.
According to government statistics, in the year ending June 2022, there were 63,089 asylum applications, 77% more than in 2019. A large proportion of those used small boats to cross the English Channel.
But illegal maritime immigration is not a problem experienced by the UK alone, although if you read the mainstream media, you would think that it is a unique, British experience. The countries along the northern Mediterranean shore – notably Italy; in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, Australia and Thailand; in the Caribbean along the US coast; all have their own increasing issues with illegal maritime immigration.
Add to people smuggling, the smuggling of contraband items and restricted drugs; illegal fishing; the dumping of illegal wastes; sanctions-busting, and one can see why Aim-listed engineering firm SRT Marine Systems [AIM:SRT], which develops maritime surveillance, security, management and safety products, and integrated systems, has had a busy year.
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