MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UK and France Home ministers emphasize security and law enforcement cooperation

UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd met French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb in London to discuss a range of home affairs matters.

UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd and the Minister of the Interior of France, Gerard Collomb, met in London on Friday and discussed a range of home affairs matters including joint efforts to fight terrorism, illegal migration, border security and efforts to tackle serious and organized crime.

 The ministers emphasized the need to maintain and strengthen bilateral cooperation on security and law enforcement co-operation. On counter-terrorism they reinforced their commitment to the British-French action plan to ensure the internet is not used as a safe space for terrorists. The ministers recognized that the internet companies are making progress, but committed to push them to go further and faster in taking down terrorist material online – in particular to ensure it is removed within one to two hours of upload – and to continue to develop technical solutions to tackle the issue.

On migration, the ministers discussed the situation in Northern France and the challenges linked to illegal migration. The ministers acknowledged the importance of UK support in reinforcing the security arrangements in coastal cities of Northern France and the need for continued efforts to manage jointly the shared border between the UK and France. The UK and France will also explore ways of improving cooperating on efforts in countries of origin and transit in Africa and Asia.

Minister Collomb also visited Brixton Police Station to see the work of the Metropolitan Police. Home Secretary Amber Rudd and the Minister of Interior Gérard Collomb are committed to continued close and constructive cooperation between the UK and France on these issues and to preparing together for the Franco-British Summit to be held in January 2018.