In an exclusive undercover investigation, LBC radio revealed French Police are turning a blind eye to smugglers to allow migrants to illegally cross the English Channel and reach the UK from Calais and Dunkirk. An undercover teaminfiltrated a criminal gang operating out of Dunkirk in the north of France, who charge7,000 for a spot on a boat crossing the channel.The LBC team posed as an Indian family pretending to attempt to bring a young family member over to the UK.

They met people smuggler Farooq in his camp in the woodlands outside Dunkirk.

Farooq, caught by the undercover reporter with a hidden camera, claimed that French Police officers at the border advise smugglers on when is the best time to attempt the journey through the channel.

He explained: When you are going to the beach the police comes, the French police and they say today is not possible. Today go, next day come.

Asked to confirm if that is what the French police say to smugglers, he said: Yeah.

Then he added: Sometimes when people are going, the French police go with them.

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French police is no problem. Police [in France] just give you the way

Farooq

Once they've crossed the border the police just say bye bye.

Now a lot of people pass. Like here, three-four hundred people pass.

As the LBC reporter asked whether there are ever any problems with the French Police, Farooq replied: French police is no problem. Police in France just gives you the way.

He added: Because police want you to get out France, yes? They want you to go. They help. This is business to France."

Farooq also explained how once the boats have reached the UK, British Police process migrants within 24 hours at the police station and provide them with hotel accommodation.

A Home Office spokesperson told LBC: The organised crime groups behind the illegal attempts to cross the Channel are putting the lives of vulnerable people in serious danger for their own financial gain.

"We are determined to put a stop to this illegal activity and last week alone Immigration Enforcement and the National Crime Agency made 23 arrests as part of a series of ongoing investigations into suspected people smuggling.

"An investigation based on the information provided by LBC is already under way.

French Police in Dunkirk denied the allegations. Speaking to Express.co.uk a spokesman said: The information is false. We dont help illegal immigrants to get to the UK.

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If we find them, we send them to special shelters, so they are in a safe place.

These shelters are all across France and depending on availability, migrants can be sent to different cities.

But we cant tell you how many migrants we find and send to these shelters on a weekly or monthly basis.

Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron claimed his country "cannot take all the misery of the world".

Speaking to Europe 1 radio in an interview from the United Nations in New York, where he was attending the annual General Assembly, he said:I maintain that France cannot take in all the misery in the world. The share it does take in it must look after in the best possible way.For this, we must organise ourselves better because France cannot welcome everyone if it wants to be a good host.

Additional reporting by Maria Ortega

To hear more about LBCs investigation, tune in to Nick Ferrari at Breakfast (weekdays from 7am) on LBC. To view the full video, visit LBC.co.uk

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French police turn blind eye and wave 'bye bye' to migrants making boat trips to UK - Express