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Lucy Moreton of the Immigration Services Union revealed that asylum seekers desperate to reach Britain are boarding “larger, more secure vessels” to cross the Channel and being carried to within miles of the coast. They are then dumped into smaller boats and left to reach land on their own.

GETTY Migrants are being smuggled to the UK in the same way they crossed the Mediterranean

There’s a suggestion people are using larger, more secure vessels to bring people within the 12-mile line and then discarding them in smaller boats and telling them to ring the coastguard Lucy Moreton

Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke called for the authorities to disrupt the “evil trade” operating around northern France. The Dover and Deal MP told the Daily Express: “There has been an increase in the number of migrants trying to break into Britain by boat or smaller crafts. “That is why it is so important Britain and France work together to stop the people traffickers before they set out from the north of France, to end the evil trade of modern slavery and prevent people from reaching the country illegally.”

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It comes amid fears more migrants will attempt to reach Britain by boat and target smaller ports which are policed less. Ms Moreton, whose union represents border and customs workers, said: “We are seeing a fair bit now of unscheduled small boat traffic. "We need to know more about it. If they have genuinely tried it on their own, and they have got near the coast, we’re going to have to rescue them. This is a really busy shipping lane. “There’s a suggestion people are using larger, more secure vessels to bring people within the 12-mile line and then discarding them in smaller boats and telling them to ring the coastguard.

"We need to catch the people who are doing that bit. The suggestion from the members that operate the cutters and general intelligence suggests that these aren’t people buying a small inflatable in Dieppe and finally setting sail, although that may be happening. “They have actually got professional help to get across. It gives them a better chance of survival.

TWITTER/ CHARLIE ELPHICKE Conservative MP Charlie Elphicke called for the authorities to disrupt the 'evil trade'

“Earlier this year crime agency Europol labelled people trafficking the “fastest growing criminal market in Europe”, adding gangs had netted £5billion in 2015. Ms Moreton claimed the closure of the Jungle camp in Calais has led to migrants relying on people smugglers to get across the Channel. The union boss said immigrants who reached the lawless camp could try to sneak into lorries for “free”. But the demolition has led to people travelling further along the coast, looking for other routes to cross. She said: “If you’re going from another port which has a longer crossing time, it’s not as easy to do it on your own.

GETTY Migrants reportedly board large vessels and then switch to smaller boats

"What it has really done is increase the demand for people-trafficking. “The unintended consequence is, if you get that far, you’re not going to shrug your shoulders and go away.

GETTY It is thought Calais' closure has led to migrants relying on people smugglers to get across