“How do you feel about those who AB Members who suggested shooting the migrants at Calais?”
It’s unfortunate that this question seems to have degenerated somewhat, with suggestions that some people advocate the indiscriminate machine gunning of unarmed civilians. I didn’t see the answer posted in the middle of the night and subsequently removed, so cannot comment on it, but I don’t think the sentiment of the remainder who have mentioned “shooting” was quite as suggested.
I would feel extremely uneasy if any migrants, in Calais or anywhere else, were shot. However, there is a rather big “however”. I was in the Port of Calais when it was stormed a couple of years or so ago. Although I only have the reports of yesterday’s incursion to go on I have first-hand experience of the earlier one and believe me it was not a pretty sight. I don’t scare that easily but it certainly up me. There were far more people involved than was reported yesterday and the only difference was that swift action by the ferry crews prevented any vessel being boarded.
Without venturing into potential terrorism, the Channel ports and the ferries are strategically important to the wellbeing of both the UK and mainland Europe. Accordingly their security, and of those using them, is not to be taken lightly. It is clear that the migrants do not respect that security and see the ports as a legitimate target to facilitate their dream to reach the UK. Something needs to be done to demonstrate to them that this is not so because the measures taken at present do not work. If more intense policing or troops are to be deployed in the ports it is of little use if they are simply going to chase after invaders and ask them to kindly leave the area if they manage to catch any. They need to be educated in the basics: shipping ports are secure areas and any unauthorised incursions will be dealt with accordingly. If the incident yesterday had occurred at Heathrow it is very probable there would have been fifty bodies on the tarmac.
So I don’t advocate the indiscriminate strafing of unarmed civilians but when sensitive and supposedly secure areas are stormed as I have witnessed and which occurred yesterday it is likely that, if they are protected as they should be (indeed as an airport would be) there may be casualties in the melee. The transport leaders are right to demand increased security at Calais and elsewhere because this disgraceful and outrageous scandal has gone on for long enough.
“Now we have suggestions that the Calais migrants should be treated as an Invading army..”
Not as an army, Eddie, but invaders nonetheless. And if you witnessed what I did (where I feared for the safety of myself and my passengers when confronted by a marauding mob) you may feel differently. The situation in Calais is an utter disgrace and nobody – drivers, passengers, port workers, ships’ crew and Calais businesses and residents – nobody should have to put up with it.