Government's zero small boats target out of reach, admits Border Force boss

..but structures in place to take chunks out of crime gangs

- Michael Knowles

ILLEGAL migration will never fall to zero despite severe efforts to end the crisis, a Border Force chief has admitted.

Chris Tilley, deputy director of Small Boats Operational Command, said that Channel smuggling gangs have become "numb" to deaths and misery.

And he warned migrants have even died in fights as they desperately tried to secure places on boats bound for the UK.

Mr Tilley admitted it is "very difficult to prevent deaths in the Channel "all of the time" once the vessels are in the water.

In a rare interview, the deputy director said that after "18 months to two years", law enforcement agencies finally have the right structures in place to tackle the organised crime gangs.

He added: "They are well embedded, but they have enormous future potential to really start taking chunks out of them and reducing the number of crossings. In terms of being optimistic about the problem, I am optimistic.

"There are so many things now in place. They have taken 18 months, two years to get them in place, but I am hopeful the gains we made last year.