Is Rescuing Boat People From The Mediterranean Counter-Productive?

[naomi24]

The Royal Navy rescues them and transports them to safety in Europe, they make their way to Calais, and we then make all efforts to keep them out of the UK. Somewhat confusing....

[mikey4444]

Naomi...this is a French problem. If the French police actually get off their behinds and actually do something, all they do is to put these refugees into mini buses, and then let them out again 5 or 10 miles back inland. The refugees then regather and walk back to the port again.

Its this behaviour that needs to be addressed.

[naomi24]

What would you suggest the French do?

[douglas9401]

I doubt the jolly jack tars say to the rescued 'If you're ever in the UK, nip round to mine for a cup of tea".
It's not some inbuilt homing instinct like salmon returning to spawn that drives them but stories of soft touch regulation and free cash.
Not forgetting the army of professional world savers lining up to give succour.

[fiction-factory]

So how far should the police take them, mikey4444 and if it's just to South of France or the border with Italy then it could be that most will just make the journey back to Calais again. I think naomi24 is saying the issue wouldn't be so great if we didn't help them reach Europe by picking them up. Picking them up is only going to encourage more people to leave the African shores as it's much less risky than if they had to go all the way in an unsafe boat

[Dodger666]

The UK doesn't help the situation by putting these migrants in hotels and giving them £35 a day.

[mikey4444]

Naomi...if these refugees are in France illegally, they should be dealt with as we do with similar over here. They should rounded up, processed and if they fail in their desire for asylum, then sent back to their country of origin.

To just take them back up the road and then let them out again makes no sense whatsoever.

The French need to pull their fingers out here.

If people are suggesting that we should let them drown at sea, that I find that entirely unacceptable.

[ummmm]

£35 a day?

[fiction-factory]

I thought it was £35 a week not a day but maybe you can tell me whether I am right or wrong

[dave50]

The answer is simple, don't rescue them. As soon as word gets back that they have no chance of being rescued, they should soon stop. They arent our problem.

[ummmm]

Mikey....the often have no paperwork so where should they be sent back to?

[Baldric]

The French authorities do seem to have problems doing their job. They can't even look after their own atm. The residents of Calais must be living a Nightmare with this going on, I think I saw yesterday there are 3000 illegals in the Town, and if it looks to us that the Police are not coping, it's got to look a lot worse if you live there!

[fiction-factory]

I assumed, mikey4444, that those rescued by the Royal Navy or other EU ships were then processed and not just released to make their way to Calais or roam free

[naomi24]

Mikey, so we rescue them, transport them to safety, offload them, and then say the result of our heroics is someone else's problem?

[douglas9401]

Having no paperwork isn't a free pass to the promised land. It's a scam to back up the whingeing, grizzling and begging.
Make it known that absolutely no claims will be entertained without valid ID, no exceptions, then the genuine can still be dealt with and the others will soon get the message.

[whiskeryron]

// Mikey....the often have no paperwork so where should they be sent back to? // Africa. As they are capable of finding their way to Calais they are quite capable of finding their way home.

[sandyRoe]

Dodger666, it's £35 a week.

[Svejk]

It was pure madness dispatching the RN to pluck these people from off the coast of Africa and dropping them off in Europe. It's what comes of making policy on the hoof. A knee-jerk reaction to a few people choosing to put themselves in danger.

[TWR]

It does not matter what views we have there is one almighty sever problem, no matter what AB Members say someone will tarnish the comment, It's strange isn't it, no comments from the country they set sail from & that's mainly Africa or I could be wrong! I'll soon find out.

[Baldric]

Africa ^^^ is not a Country, it is the second largest Continent on Earth.