Italy's porous borders

Would-be immigrants celebrate as they arrive in Otranto

The BBC's Mike Thomson reports from the small port of Otranto in south-east Italy about the efforts to tighten the Italian borders in the face of an ongoing tide of illegal migrants.

The UK Home Secretary, David Blunkett, has been visiting Dover to outline new measures to combat illegal immigration - technology like the introduction of X-ray scanners and more closed circuit TV cameras at ports.

It may help, but it can't stop migrants getting into the European Union in the first place.

Immigrants in Italy aspire to live elsewhere in Europe

That task falls primarily to southern European countries such as Italy, which is the landing point for many thousands of refugees each month. But how much effort are these countries making to strengthen their borders?

As I visit the immigration police in Otranto, they have received yet another call - in what has been a very busy week.

Within minutes a police speedboat is launched. Its target is an unidentified craft full of people heading at great speed towards the shore.

Giving chase

The other boat is turning. It is turning very sharply, but we're after it.

Last Saturday nearly 1,000 illegal immigrants landed near here in just one night after crossing the 70km (42-mile) strait from Albania.

Local police commander, Recardo Garvil, says keeping up with the people smugglers isn't only tiring, it's also very dangerous.

Treacherous journey: This Albanian immigrant was saved from her sinking ship

"The smugglers are extremely determined. Sometimes when they're being chased, they throw children and babies in the sea, so that we have to stop and rescue them," said Commander Garvil.

"Other times they tell all the refugees to jump into the sea up to 500 metres (1,640 feet) offshore, despite the fact that many can't swim.

"On other occations they drive their speed boat straight at our police vessels, and many of our officers have been killed," he said.

The other boat turns, but faced with rough seas and strong winds police finally give up the chase and the people smugglers disappear from view.

Aspirations

But not all those who try get away.

A short drive from the police station lies the San Foca Refugee Camp, which has been home to more than 40,000 asylum seekers from 56 different countries in just four years.

The camp is run by Catholic priest Father Cesare Lodeserto, a man who is shadowed by up to eight beefy bodyguards.

He tells me that most of his guests are economic migrants fleeing desperate poverty. But it seems that most aren't desperate enough to end their journeys here.

"Refugees don't want to stay in Italy. Many of them leave for Great Britain, Germany and France, because they know they will financially be better off than here in Italy," said Father Lodeserto.

"That's why so few are given asylum here," he said.

Only 6% of those who apply for asylum in Italy end up getting it.

Reliant on charity

Financially speaking, people aren't exactly encouraged to stay in Italy.

Refugees aren't allowed to work and are only entitled to state aid for 45 days after their arrival - beyond this they have to either rely on churches and charities or fend for themselves.

David Blunkett hopes to fortify Dover against illegal immigrants

But nearly half-a-million illegal immigrants have been granted residence rights here in a series of amnesties over the last six years, although it's hard to stay how many stuck around to take this up.

Around 30 km (20 miles) north-west of Otranto lies the regional capital, Lecce, which has its own share of refugee camps.

The town's mayor, Adriana Poli Bortone, who is also an MEP, admits she has grown used to hearing claims that Italy doesn't do enough to control a problem which it passes on to Northern Europe - a charge she strongly denies.

Cry for help

But she insists that things won't get any better unless other EU nations do a bit more to help beleaguered front line nations like her own.

"In the south of Italy there is a great emergency. We try to deal with it and we try to survive, but often we are alone on the borderline to solve the problem," said Ms Bortone.

Back in Otranto the port police give chase to another suspected people smuggling speedboat - this time in a jeep along an isolated coastal road.

The craft cuts its lights and disappears from view.

The next time those on board reappear, they could well be putting Mr Blunkett's new fortress - Dover - to the test.