France denies second refugee camp

The existing camp at Sangatte has been bitterly opposed

The French Government has confirmed that there will no second refugee centre to ease overcrowding at a controversial camp near Calais.

Reports had claimed a new facility, run by the Red Cross, was being planned in the grounds of a psychiatric hospital 20 miles from Dunkirk.

But after a meeting between the UK's Home Secretary, David Blunkett, and his French opposite number Daniel Vaillant, a joint statement confirmed there would be no second camp.

The agreements... are the beginning of a long process of engaging with the French to achieve positive change

UK Home Secretary David Blunkett

The operator of the Channel Tunnel rail link on Tuesday lost a court attempt to shut down the existing camp at Sangatte, on the doorstep of its Calais terminal, which it says is responsible for rising numbers of people stowing away on its trains.

There had been fears that the rumoured second camp would create even greater problems.

The joint UK-French statement stressed the two governments' determination to combat illegal immigration.

The ministers agreed that the number of British immigration officers working in the tunnel security zone in France will be increased, while France will toughen legal action against intruders.

'Positive change'

More should also be done, they said, to persuade would-be refugees to seek asylum in the first EU country in which they arrive.

Mr Blunkett said the decisions were the start of a long process of "engaging with the French to achieve positive change".

"This will include the European-wide and international agenda as well as the various issues of border controls and action to dissuade both traffickers and individuals from seeing the French coast as a jumping-off point for the UK," he said in a statement.

The Red Cross camp at Sangatte holds up to 700 refugees, mostly Afghans and Kurds from Iraq, and is half a mile from the Channel Tunnel entrance.