Priti’s hands are tied

I CAN’T help but pity Priti Patel in her efforts to stem the channelcrossing migrant crisis when her powers are constrained by circumstances beyond her control.

Under international agreement, the Uk is bound to accept genuine refugees escaping from desperate circumstances in other parts of the world. Determining whether people are refugees or economic migrants can be an almost impossible task.

The channel, once the first line of defence for Britain, has proved no deterrent to desperate migrants and people smugglers.

The fact that vastly overcrowded inflatable dinghies fail to meet international maritime safety regulations doesn’t seem to be an issue for the French coastguard.

It doesn’t appear the tragic loss of 27 lives has prompted President Macron to do much more than complain about fishing licences.

C. SIMPSON, Wokingham, Berks.