Kent under pressure: Living on the frontline of the migrant crisis

Despite lockdown, this year there have been more migrants attempting to cross the Channel by boat than in the same period last year.  Under plans announced by Home Secretary Priti Patel, Border Force officers are to get new Australian-style “turn-back” powers to stop and redirect boats carrying migrants across the Channel. But the new sovereign borders bill isn’t likely to come into affect until Autumn. In the meantime, as the weather improves more people will attempt to make the dangerous crossing.  Last summer, Roger Gough, leader of Kent County Council said the numbers of migrant children crossing the Channel was ’unsustainable’ and the authority was being ’overwhelmed’. So as the number of migrants continue to climb, can the communities and services on the frontline cope?