THE “militarisation” of British borders was blamed today for the deaths of nearly 300 migrants over the last 21 years.

Responses to the migrant crisis have become increasingly militarised under successive British and French governments since 1999, forcing people to use more dangerous routes, a new report says.

Calais has been turned into a “murderous border zone,” while the Home Office response to small boat crossings has grown to “monstrous proportions,” it argues.

In total, more than 8,000 people have made the dangerous Channel crossing on small boats this year.

Mael Galisson, from Gisti, a legal service for asylum-seekers in France, wrote the original report in French which has now been translated and updated.

He gave the example of the Eurotunnel, where he says the death toll rose after access to the motorway was made more difficult.

Mr Galisson added that a drop in lorry and air traffic because of Covid-19 has increased attempted sea crossings in small boats organised by exploitative smugglers who charge up to £3,000 per person.

The report, Deadly Crossings and The Militarisation Of Britain’s Borders, is a collaboration between the Institute of Race Relations, the Permanent People’s Tribunal London steering group and Gisti.