Home Office launches deterrent social media campaign in Vietnam
Vietnamese citizens have been increasing in number trying to reach the UK
The Home Office is launching a new social media campaign trying to warn Vietnamese citizens from coming to the UK.
Ministers are hoping that the initiative, which launches on Monday (March 25th) will see a reduction in the number of Vietnamese people making illegal journeys across the Channel.
According to recent figures from the Home Office, the number of people coming to the UK from Vietnam in small boats has increased.
As a result, Vietnam is one of the top 10 countries for illegal journeys being made to the UK in the hope of finding better work.
However, with the new scheme, the Home Office said they hope that those considering making the journey to the UK will be put off.
According to the Home Office, the initiative will feature adverts that will "set out the risks of being indebted to and exploited by the people-smuggling gangs who profit from facilitating small boat crossings".
As well as this, the advertisements will feature real Vietnamese testimonies from people who regretted coming to the UK.
In one specific advert, a migrant shares his experience of sleeping in a camp in Calais for five nights under the supervision of armed guards, before attempting to make the journey across the Channel from France to the UK.
The migrant, referred to as K in the advert, admits it was a foolish thing to do: "Never again would I risk my life in a small boat, even if you bribed me."
It follows similar schemes pushed by the Home Office in other high-priority countries where migrants are coming from, including Albania, France and Belgium.
Home Secretary James Cleverly backed the scheme, saying it has worked on several other occasions.
"This is a powerful campaign which demonstrates first-hand that life for people arriving here illegally is a far cry from the lies they have been sold by the gangs on the other side of the Channel," Mr Cleverly said.
"Last year, similar work contributed to a 90% reduction in small boat arrivals from Albania, and overall numbers are down by a third, but there is more to do."
He added: "Expanding our campaign to Vietnam, another key partner in our work to tackle illegal migration, will help us to save more lives and dent the business model of the criminals who profit from this vile trade."
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