- French police accused of aggressive “pushback” against migrant boats
- UK-funded vessel involved in intercepting dinghies in Channel
- Government’s Rwanda plan faces scrutiny amid Channel crossings increase
The manoeuvres have been likened to the contentious “pushbacks” that have been levied against the Greek authorities.
There appears to be footage of French authorities intercepting small boats transporting migrants across the Channel using aggressive tactics.
According to two video clips obtained by Lighthouse Reports and the Observer during an investigation, maritime police attempted to physically compel the vessels to turn around in an effort to prevent them from reaching the United Kingdom.
October 2023 surveillance footage shows a Police Nationale patrol vessel encircling a dinghy carrying approximately twenty-five individuals clad in life vests.
Sharp manoeuvres executed by the police vessel generate a wake and waves that inundate the dinghy as its occupants attempt to extricate themselves from the water.
As reported by the Observer, the police vessel that manoeuvred Dunkirk Harbour was procured using funds supplied by the United Kingdom government in a 2018 agreement. During a bilateral summit held at Sandhurst Military Academy, the government committed to allocating £45 million towards enhancing security measures at Channel ports.
It was referred to as a “textbook pushback” by an unidentified search and rescue expert cited in the newspaper. The Greek government has been accused of employing this contentious strategy to turn back migrant vessels at sea.
“That one manoeuvre alone could cause a mass casualty event,” according to them. “The depth of the water is sufficient to cause one to drown.” “I have repeatedly observed this in the central Mediterranean, but this is the first time I have ever witnessed something similar occur in the Channel.”
“It could be an attempt to preserve lives”
Former British Border Force chief immigration officer Kevin Saunders stated that the French government has made it plain that it will not interfere with any vessels that are already at sea.
However, he stated that he believes the police were attempting to prevent the vessel from traversing the breakwater from the harbour to the “terrifying” Channel expanse of water.
He stated that it appears the French are attempting to force the boat to return because, if they fail to do so, there is a greater than 50/50 possibility that it will sink.
Although this may appear to be a dire situation, it could potentially be an attempt to preserve lives.
A second video purportedly captures French gendarmerie personnel issuing a threat to assault migrants with a substantial tank of pepper spray as the police vessel approaches the dinghy prior to colliding with it.
Rishi Sunak, who has pledged to “stop the boats,” signed a three-year, £480 million contract with Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, to manage Channel crossings last year.
In November of last year, while visiting Samos, the then-home secretary Suella Braverman stated that the government could “learn” from Greek immigration deterrence methods but insisted that the United Kingdom does not employ pushbacks.
The country received an influx of over 500 migrants via small boat on Wednesday, the most crowded day of the year thus far. The following day, an additional 263 individuals embarked on the voyage, bringing the total for 2024 to 4,306. In comparison, in the first quarter of last year, they recorded 3,793 migrants.
Government optimism regarding Rwanda’s proposal
A further setback was inflicted on the government’s plan to repatriate some asylum seekers to Rwanda last week when the House of Lords rejected the most recent draft of the law.
Mr. Sunak has expressed his desire for one-way flights to Kigali to commence operations in the spring. The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill is scheduled to return to the House of Commons on 15 April, with an additional day allotted in the event that colleagues request additional modifications.
The purpose of the bill and the treaty with Rwanda is to preempt additional legal disputes regarding the halted asylum scheme subsequent to the Supreme Court’s ruling that the scheme was illegitimate.
Jeremy Hunt defended the cost of the stalled project following an estimate by the National Audit Office that it could rise to £500 million.
When asked why the government was “squandering good money after bad,” Mr Hunt responded, “We are not,” on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips.
He further stated, “If I may say so subtly, you have neglected to present the bigger picture: compared to last year, the number of crossings has decreased by over a third this year.”
“Take a step towards financial freedom – claim your free Webull shares now!”
“An unacceptable number of individuals are traversing the Channel, and we will do whatever is required to put an end to these perilous and fatal journeys,” a Home Office spokesperson said.
“We remain committed to expanding upon the achievements that contributed to last year’s arrivals decline of over one-third.”
In addition to strengthening legislation and forging agreements with international partners, our collaboration with our French counterparts, who are diligently striving to halt the vessels and preserve lives, remains strong.
