Eurotunnel wants refugee camp shut

Increasing numbers of illegal immigrants use the Channel Tunnel

LONDON, England -- Eurotunnel has asked a French court to shut a refugee camp blamed for the rising numbers of illegal immigrants stowing away on its trains between Britain and France.

The operator of the Channel Tunnel rail link said on Tuesday a writ filed at Lille administrative court sought the "immediate suspension" of the Sangatte camp while judges considered the case for its closure.

The move comes a week after Eurotunnel began a separate legal battle against British plans to fine it for every illegal immigrant on its trains.

A Eurotunnel spokesman told Reuters: "We see this camp as a logistics centre where incursions are planned and strategy is discussed.

"As soon as it gets dark (the illegal immigrants) start the short trek to the terminal and you can literally see a stream of people."

Although the site belongs to Eurotunnel, local Calais authorities requisitioned it two years ago, the spokesman said. He estimated it now houses about 1,200 people.

The Eurotunnel writ argued the decision to requisition the camp was "incompatible with the duty of the French state to ensure the security of the French terminal."

The firm said it had invested an extra £3 million ($4.3 million) to protect the 20-mile (30 kilometre) perimeter of its Coquelles terminal. More than 100 security staff patrol at night and 200 cameras monitor the approach to the tunnel, it added.

Eurotunnel said it had prevented more than 18,500 illegal immigrants from reaching Britain in the first half of this year.

In February, Eurotunnel reported losses of 1.135 billion francs ($158.5 million) due to disruption in their services from illegal trafficking.

About 76,000 people formally applied for asylum in Britain last year -- up from about 4,000 a year a decade ago.