Is tough action needed
AS THE likelihood of rougher seas approaches, there is greater danger to anyone attempting to cross the Channel in a dinghy. The journey from boat supplier to mid-Channel must involve warehouses, forklift trucks, manpower and transport to the numerous points of departure. The migrants also need to be brought in groups to the beaches. Rather than us paying £54 million to the French authorities, why don’t the two governments use technology and intelligence resources to break the boat supply chain before more lives are lost?
T. A. TODD, Ramsgate, Kent. WHEN Home Secretary Priti Patel says ‘we’ll send the migrant boats back’, I trust she does mean fully loaded with occupants and not just recycling the boats.
P. WILLIAMS, Hayes, Middlesex. HAULIERS are given hefty fines for knowingly or not allowing illegal immigrants
to travel in their vehicles. So why aren’t the French authorities being fined heavily for each migrant who reaches these shores? Would they put up with this situation if the roles were reversed?
W. KENNEDY, Blackburn, Lancs. THERE should be a concerted effort to destroy the boats before the migrants are able to board them. They must be difficult to conceal. But would France be prepared to take such action? i’m sure they can’t wait to get rid of their unwelcome guests.
W. ABBOTT, Wem, Shropshire. PRITI PATEL has said Border Force should turn around migrant boats coming from France and send them back. The French say this is dangerous and against maritime law. Don’t they consider it dangerous or against the law to allow overloaded, inadequate boats to leave their shores despite Britain subsidising their coastal patrols?
Name and address supplied. MiGRANT boats will be turned back? What happens if they slash the dinghy mid-Channel and flounder in the water? LAURENCE STEVENS,
Wilmslow, Cheshire. WE HAVE seen a record number of migrants making the crossing from France, despite the offer to pay an extra £54 million to France for increased patrols. There is a suspicion that French coastguard vessels are escorting overladen inflatable dinghies into British waters to be rescued. Are the French additional beach patrols anything more than the local gendarme taking a leisurely evening cycle along the coast road for a mile or two, before adjourning for a glass of vino? The money would be better spent on preventing the sale of extra-large inflatables to traffickers.
C. SIMPSON, Wokingham, Berks.