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reaching Britain does not automatically mean they will be allowed to stay, the incentive to pay a smuggler may eventually become weaker. That is the connection between **returns** and **small boats**. The two problems may appear separate. They are not. And if Britain wants to reduce crossings, it needs to understand that entire chain. The next question is therefore: **What happens if Britain changes the incentives?** # Chapter Eight ## Change the Incentive If Britain wants to reduce the number of people crossing the Channel in small boats, it has to ask a difficult question. **Why are people making the journey?** There is no single answer. Some people may genuinely fear persecution or conflict. Some may have family already living in Britain. Some may believe they will have better opportunities here. Some may believe that once they reach Britain, they will be allowed to stay. And some may simply be following the advice of people smugglers who promise them a better future. Whatever the individual reason, the smugglers understand one thing very well. There is demand for their service. And where there is demand, there is money to be made. That is why changing the incentive matters. ## The message has to be honest Britain needs to communicate clearly what happens when somebody arrives. Not exaggerated propaganda. Not threats. Not political slogans. Just the facts. If you arrive irregularly and claim asylum, your claim will be considered. It may succeed. It may fail. If it succeeds, you may receive protection. If it fails and you have no other legal right to remain, you may be required to leave. That message should be available in the countries and communities where people are considering making the journey. It should be available online. It should be available through legitimate organisations. And it should be available in languages people understand. The purpose is not to frighten people. It is to make sure they are making decisions based on reality rather than promises made by criminals. ## The smugglers sell hope A people smuggler does not normally advertise a dangerous journey by saying: ?You could spend years waiting for an asylum decision and there is no guarantee you will be allowed to stay.? That is not a very good sales pitch. Instead, the customer is sold hope. The hope of reaching Britain. The hope of finding work. The hope of being reunited with family. The hope of receiving protection. The hope of starting again. That hope can be powerful. And when someone has already travelled thousands of miles, they may be prepared to take enormous risks to reach the final destination. Britain therefore needs to challenge the smugglers' sales pitch with accurate information. ## But information alone is not enough Here is the important part. You cannot change the incentive simply by putting up a poster saying, ?Don't come.? If the reality on the ground contradicts the message, people will believe what they hear from friends, relatives and smugglers instead. That means the policy has to match the message. If Britain says asylum claims are processed quickly, they need to be processed quickly. If Britain says unsuccessful claims can result in removal, the removal system needs to work. If Britain says smugglers are being targeted, smugglers need to see arrests, prosecutions and confiscation of criminal assets. In other words: **The message has to be backed by action.** ## What about legal routes? There is another part of the debate that cannot simply be ignored. If Britain wants to reduce dangerous irregular journeys, it may need to consider whether there are controlled and limited legal routes