Kentish Express Ashford & District
Coast patrols branded ‘unhelpful’
Activists have started beach ‘ patrols’ on the lookout for migrants.
The group Britain First says it will remain in the Dover area over the next few weeks in a campaign it is calling Operation White Cliffs.
Members have carried out what it called the first of its “patriot migrant patrols”with its leader, Paul Golding, also taking part.
The party has not specified which beach was watched over.
But a statement from the group said: “This particular beach we are patrolling has been the main landing ground for multiple illegal migrant crossings.
“Equipped with torches, binoculars and hi-vis jackets, our activists patrolled the beach keeping a close eye out for migrant crossings. This new operation has been dubbed Operation White Cliffs and will be escalated over the next few weeks.”
Britain First said it had earlier visited Calais where, they say, they faced “hostility” from migrants.
It said Mr Golding and other members had spent hours there talking to migrants trying to deter them from attempting to cross the Channel to Britain where they subsequently seek refugee status.
Ben Bano, co-director of the group Seeking Sanctuary, which promotes awareness of the plight of refugee, said of the patrols: “This is an unhelpful and unnecessary initiative which will only inflame tensions.
“The various statutory bodies including the Border Force and coastguard are well able and equipped to deal with migrants arriving at our coast without any involvement or interference from other bodies.”
In another development, it was reported last week that more than 700 people, including children, were evicted from a camp in Dunkirk in France. It followed a court ruling that the encampment, in a gymanisum, was a health and security hazard.