File on 4 Investigates

Ticket to Hide


Listen Later

Sixty thousand people have crossed the Mediterranean and made it to Europe so far this year.

Frontex, the EU border agency, warns that between 500,000 and 1 million people - Eritreans, Syrians, Afghans, Somalis - could be waiting to leave the shores of Libya for Italy.

Its latest report says resources are being devoted to migrants' care but not towards screening and collecting basic information such as their nationality - which means many are quickly moving on to countries like the UK. According to the report, 'this puts the EU internal security at risk'.

There are also fears terrorists belonging to the so-called Islamic State could secrete themselves among the migrants.

So how easy is it for people to avoid security checks as they journey across the EU?

European countries are supposed to stop illegal migrants and enter their fingerprints and details on a central database. EU rules state that the country where people are first fingerprinted must look after them and consider their asylum applications.

This means many migrants set on coming to this country try to stay under the radar in Italy and France, hoping to reach the UK without being processed.

Jane Deith follows the routes used by some of those headed for Britain.

She also investigates the smugglers who help them - from individuals using their own cars, to organized crime gangs offering money back guarantees on a new life in the UK.

Is Europe losing the battle for control?

Reporter: Jane Deith Producer: Paul Grant.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

File on 4 InvestigatesBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3

4.3

32 ratings


More shows like File on 4 Investigates

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,588 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

376 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

891 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,049 Listeners

Money Box by BBC Radio 4

Money Box

32 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,470 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,801 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,758 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,043 Listeners

Profile by BBC Radio 4

Profile

106 Listeners

F1: Chequered Flag by BBC Radio 5 Live

F1: Chequered Flag

779 Listeners

Crossing Continents by BBC Radio 4

Crossing Continents

76 Listeners

Moral Maze by BBC Radio 4

Moral Maze

72 Listeners

The Briefing Room by BBC Radio 4

The Briefing Room

81 Listeners

Newscast by BBC News

Newscast

624 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,180 Listeners

The Slow Newscast by The Observer

The Slow Newscast

164 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

723 Listeners

The Story by The Times

The Story

260 Listeners

Cyber Hack by BBC World Service

Cyber Hack

1,632 Listeners

Radical with Amol Rajan by BBC Radio 4

Radical with Amol Rajan

52 Listeners

The History Podcast by BBC Radio 4

The History Podcast

65 Listeners

Shadow World by BBC Radio 4

Shadow World

33 Listeners

Marianna in Conspiracyland by BBC Radio 4

Marianna in Conspiracyland

48 Listeners

The Crime Agents by Global

The Crime Agents

40 Listeners