Humane resettlement

SIR – Europe should charter one or two large cruise ships to pick up migrants directly from Turkey, thereby cutting out unlawful middle men and avoiding a more perilous crossing.

On the journey from Turkey to Hamburg via the Mediterranean, border officials, police and medics on board would sort the migrants by family and receiving country. They could be given food and medical care, and criminals and terrorists could be weeded out.

Those destined for Germany, the Low Countries and Scandinavian countries would alight at Hamburg. On the return journey, migrants would be dropped off, as appropriate, at Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Croatia and Greece.

Cruise ships were chartered during the Second World War. To do this again would be humane and provide a good start to life in Europe for migrants.

John Atkins

Cuxham, Oxfordshire