Two small boats carrying transmigrants were detected at sea off the Flemish coast last night. One boat was discovered off Lombardsijde (Middelkerke, West Flanders Province) and the other off the resorts of Bredene, De Haan and Blankenberge (West Fanders). In De Haan, police also intercepted six transmigrants in the sanddunes. An empty rubber dinghy was also found on the beach between Blankenberge and Zeebrugge (Bruges – West Flanders).
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Blankenberge deploys drone and cameras as UK’s small boats crisis hits Flemish east coast
Colin Clapson
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The results of checks once again show that the problem posed by transmigrants attempting the crossing to the UK is shifting from the Flemish west coast to more easterly coastal towns in the mid and east coast. Last Thursday, 19 migrants were rescued off the coast of De Haan after they got into difficulty. The discovery of the dinghy in Blankenberge suggests that migrants are now venturing even further towards the east coast in the hope of evading checks.
According to Blankenberge police, it is currently unclear exactly who owns the dinghy found on the beach. An investigation revealed that the boat’s engine was faulty. “Our officers are currently conducting a search of the dunes using a drone,” Police Commissioner Jan Maertens told VRT News in West Flanders. “We want to check whether there are still any migrants in the area.”
Additional measures in east coast resort of Blankenberge
‘The problem is shifting,’ concludes Blankenberge’s mayor Björn Prasse. ‘Because there are very strict and rigorous checks in the border area with France, it is almost impossible to launch a boat there. And that is why these migrants are turning up here too.’
The Blankenberge mayor has announced intensive checks in the coming days and weeks.
The town will now deploy the cameras around the beach and the harbour to help identify any suspicious movements quickly. There is also a mobile camera on the western breakwater, aimed towards the resort of Wenduine (De Haan). ‘The police, as well as our beach rescue service, scan the dune areas between De Haan and Zeebrugge with a drone. This allows us to identify any tents or camps.’
Sea conditions are ideal for trip to Albion
It is considerably colder than last week, but if sea conditions are favourable enough, migrants will still attempt to make the crossing to the United Kingdom.