Why Should British Police Be Sent To Calais?

[ChillDoubt]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29902959

Can't the French do ANYTHING for themselves? Why do they feel we have to get embroiled in this?
It's their problem, it's up to them to sort it out, isn't it?
Whilst I understand their plight, each country has their own unique set of problems to deal with, hardly our fault that there's a stretch of water called the English Channel that has helped keep out unwelcome visitors since time immemorial, is it?

Best they start dealing with the problem post haste, before Marine Le Pen gains even more popularity:

http://www.newsweek.com/far-right-leader-marine-le-pen-twice-popular-france-current-president-hollande-282090

[sandyRoe]

If the French were working to help themselves they'd be doing all they could to move the problem across the Channel.
Imagine a highly improbable scenario, people from all the trouble spots across the world are in England and are desperate to get to Ireland. Would the UK authorities be busting a gut trying to stop them leave?

[Baldric]

I posted this on an earlier thread

It is a French problem, it is 20 miles away from us over the Channel, the French need to get their act together and sort it, they appear to be on the side of the immigrants at the moment, but then it's nothing new for them to align themselves with invasive foreigners is it?

[janbee]

It would be better if France stopped the immigrants getting IN to their country in the first place.
Now that the problem is nipping at our heels, we are also now involved whether we like it or not.

[Maydup]

We are far too attractive that's why its our problem too. The european borders are way more difficult to police than ours with people travelling across fields and byways to get to the closest port to the UK. We are lucky to have the English Channel, but we must look at why the migrants are heading here and why we have caused the problem in Calais.

[Quizmonster]

They shouldn't. As far as I know, European law is that refugees, illegal immigrants or whatever have to be dealt with in the country they first set foot on. As regards Calais, it may well be that they did not first land in France, perhaps having come across the border from Italy or wherever. No matter, they're in France NOW. Nor is the fact that they want to come here relevant. They haven't made it this far and where they are is the place that needs to handle that.
Don't imagine I have no sympathy for these people, because I do. However, until they DO get here, they have nothing to do with us.

[Deskdiary]

"Don't imagine I have no sympathy for these people, because I do. However, until they DO get here, they have nothing to do with us."

Then you are a far more sympathetic person than I am, because I really couldn't give a tinker's cuss about them or what happens to them.

My only concern is that I hope they do not make it to these shores.

To answer the question - I fail to see what the British police will be able to do; they have no jurisdiction.

This is a French problem. It only becomes a British problem should they make to this side of the Channel. Should they make a successful crossing, they should be returned forthwith - the EU rules on who has responsibility are quite clear.

[Quizmonster]

Each to his own, Deskdiary. However, if I happened to be sailing my yacht up the English Channel and came upon someone obviously foreign on an inner-tube or lilo shouting desperately for help in a roughening sea, I'd heave to and hoist him aboard. So - I am totally convinced - would you!

[ummmm]

I have sympathy for them.

How bad must their life be to risk it to get here?

I know we can't keep letting people in but it doesn't mean you can't feel for people so desperate. We are here through sheer luck of birth.

[Svejk]

As long as you drop him off on the other side, QM. I expect you could be prosecuted for landing him here. Otherwise we'd have Dunkirkesque flotillas out 'finding' drowning immigrants.

[ludwig]

The other day the mayor of Calais said 'these people are prepared to die to get to England'.

Eh? prepared to die? So, they're happy to be killed as long as their body is subsequently transported to England?
Blimey, now that really is desparate.

[youngmafbog]

//How bad must their life be to risk it to get here? //

So you are saying France, Italy etc etc is bad too then?

They have made it to saftey, they do NOT need to come here nor do we need to do anything to help the French.

If we do go helping then it wont be solved, it will need to get much worse to get better and the French wil have to learn what the consequences of electing a socialist.

[Quizmonster]

Problem is, Svejk, he might just have fallen asleep on his lilo off Bournemouth beach! I wouldn't know which "side" he'd come from, so I'd just head for whichever one I'd set course for.

[Svejk]

Do we want or need people who fall asleep on their lilos?

[ummmm]

No, I'm not saying France, Italy etc are bad.

Maybe they have been informed that the UK are more tolerant.

[ummmm]

Lol Svejk...

[ludwig]

I didn't know you had a yacht QM.

[Svejk]

Typical champagne socialist, Ludwig. ;)

[jno]

people trying to get from Calais to Britain are a problem for Britain. I read about it every day, right here. So, er, why not do something about it?

[B00]

If those entering the uk illegally via Calais are future benefit claimers, doesn't it make sense to try to nip this in the bud before they're given a chance to get here?

Yes, send the police, the army too, if it'll help stem the flow!

[ludwig]

// people trying to get from Calais to Britain are a problem for Britain //

They aren't though. They're a problem for France. They're only a problem for Britain if they manage to get here.