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French minister says UK police should help in Calais

France's interior minister says British police should be sent to Calais to help dissuade would-be illegal immigrants from trying to cross the channel.

There are around 2,500 migrants in Calais and the town's mayor has previously told MPs many are "prepared to die to come to England".

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Calais migrants believe UK is 'Eldorado fairytale'

MPs are challenging the mayor of Calais on her views that the benefits system in England are "too favourable" for immigrants, and are encouraging others to attempt the dangerous crossing from Calais to Dover.

Natacha Bouchart said those in Calais are speaking to those in England and are hearing that they can easily work illegally, and presenting the UK as an "Eldorado fairytale".

£36 may not seem like much in the UK, but these people do not know that. They come from very poor countries, they do not understand that this is not very much money.

They know from people who do come through, they can easily find work, they can find accommodation and they can get money every week.

The people who have got through, they call them, they say: 'This is Eldorado, we are staying.'

Populations are not checked in the same way in the UK (compared to France). There hasn't been a message from the UK that this is not Eldorado.

– Natacha Bouchart

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