UK flies air force plane over Channel amid migrant crossings A Royal Air Force surveillance plane is flying over the English Channel as the British government tries to curb people crossing over from France in small boatsLONDON -- A Royal Air Force surveillance plane flew over the English Channel on Monday as the British government sought to stop a growing number of people making the hazardous crossing from France in small boats. Britain’s Conservative government has talked tough amid a surge in the number of migrants crossing the Channel during recent warm summer weather. Some have turned to small boats organized by people smugglers because coronavirus lockdowns have reduced opportunities to stow away on ferries and trucks. The British and French immigration ministers were due to hold talks in Paris on Tuesday about the Channel crossings, as some British politicians accused France of not doing enough to stop boats leaving shore. The lawmaker for Calais accused the U.K. government of political grandstanding with talk of sending in the Royal Navy.

Source: ABC News August 10, 2020 09:19 UTC