UK says ready to push migrant and refugee boats back to France

Fast News

Britain approves plans to turn away boats illegally carrying migrants and refugees to its shores, deepening diplomatic rift with France over how to deal with people risking their lives by trying to cross English Channel.

Refugees rescued from the English Channel are brought into Dover on the Border Force Catamaran Rescue Boat, BF Hurricane, Britain, on September 8, 2021. (Peter Nicholls / Reuters)

Britain has approved plans to turn away boats illegally carrying migrants and refugees to its shores, deepening a diplomatic rift with France over how to deal with a surge of people risking their lives by trying to cross the English Channel in small dinghies.

Hundreds of small boats have attempted the journey from France to England so far this year, across one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.

Britain’s border officials will be trained to force boats away from its waters but would only deploy the new tactics when deemed safe to do so, according a government official who asked not to be named.

Michael Ellis, Britain’s acting attorney-general, will draw up a legal basis for border officials to deploy the new strategy, the official said.

The Home Office, or Interior Ministry, said: “We do not routinely comment on maritime operational activity.”

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This is the letter from the French interior minister to Priti Patel regarding English Channel crossings and possible push backs

Sent on Monday but sent to me and other journalists this evening, it says:

“The French position on intervention at sea remains unchanged… pic.twitter.com/Qproq8tJmU

— Lizzie Dearden (@lizziedearden) September 8, 2021

Dangerous move

In a letter leaked to British media, France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said forcing boats back towards the French coast would be dangerous.

Darmanin protested that “safeguarding human lives at sea
takes priority over considerations of nationality, status and
migratory policy”, the reports said.

France and Britain agreed in July to deploy more police and
invest in detection technology to stop Channel crossings. French
police have confiscated more dinghies but they say they can only
reduce the flow of departures.

READ MORE:
More than 2,000 migrants died while trying to reach Spain in 2021

Source: Reuters

UK says ready to push migrant and refugee boats back to France
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