The UK government’s funding of French police has put the lives of at-risk migrants in danger by stopping small boats in the Channel, using methods that have been criticized by search and rescue professionals for potentially leading to a large number of fatalities.
Recently, the Observer, Lighthouse Reports, Le Monde, and Der Spiegel have come across startling new proof which exposes the actions of the French maritime police. This evidence discloses that the authorities have resorted to using physical force to compel small boats to change course and return, a strategy commonly referred to as “pullbacks,” in order to prevent them from reaching the shores of Britain.
Recently acquired video, leaked paperwork, and statements from witnesses reveal that the French government has employed forceful methods such as surrounding a migrant vessel, creating waves that flood the rubber boat; colliding with a smaller boat while brandishing a large container of pepper spray at passengers; and piercing boats while they are in open waters, forcing migrants to return to land by swimming.
The UK has asked France to conduct sea interceptions, but France has rejected the requests, citing a violation of international maritime laws. Recent evidence suggests there has been an increase in the utilization of these methods since last summer.
Rishi Sunak has committed to halting the inflow of migrants across the English Channel, and has proposed allocating hundreds of millions of pounds to France for increased monitoring and border personnel, in order to deter individuals from making the voyage. However, on Wednesday, the House of Lords rejected the government’s asylum and immigration bill, causing a delay in the prime minister’s goal of launching flights to Kigali until after Easter.
Government officials state that the legislation will serve as a preventative measure for individuals attempting to travel from northern France to the UK via the English Channel. In the initial footage obtained and confirmed during this inquiry, a law enforcement vessel in the port of Dunkirk makes a tight circumnavigation near a small boat containing approximately 25 individuals, causing the boat to become inundated with a wake of water.
The police boat is approaching the small boat quickly, then making a sharp turn to create waves. It then circles around and returns again. The migrants on the boat are wearing life jackets filled with foam and trying to remove water from the boat with their shoes.
Insider information has verified that the French government obtained the police patrol boat used in the maneuver depicted in the video through funding from the UK government as part of the “Sandhurst treaty”. This bilateral agreement for border security was signed at the royal military academy in 2018.
“A search and rescue expert, who viewed the footage, compared the situation to textbook pushback incidents, similar to those in Greece. They stated that one maneuver could potentially lead to a mass casualty situation due to the deepness of the water. While this is a common occurrence in the central Mediterranean, it is the first time it has been observed in the Channel.”
Past findings have revealed the use of tactics by the Greek coastguard to push migrant-carrying boats back into Turkish waters in the Aegean Sea, including speeding around them to create waves.
Two high-ranking officials from the UK Border Force stated that the strategy could result in numerous fatalities and wounds. One official in charge of operations for the Border Force stated, “If the blades of the French boat come into contact with the vessel, it will cut right through it.”
Another issue is a crash. The mass and impact of the ship could potentially pass straight over the rib. This could result in passengers being knocked unconscious and falling into the water, potentially causing death. I find it hard to believe that any sailor would approve of this.
Nautical professionals stated that they would be “extremely shocked” if Border Force and HM Coastguard were not knowledgeable about these strategies being employed. One expert even insisted, “Without a doubt, a senior individual is certainly aware of this.”
In a follow-up video, French gendarmerie officers are seen riding in a high-speed boat next to a small inflatable boat about 12 miles away from the French coastline. The officers threaten to use a large supply of pepper spray against the boat carrying migrants and ultimately collide their vessel into the dinghy. An official from the Border Force expressed concerns, stating, “Their actions could potentially harm individuals on board, including those with asthma or pregnant women, without knowing their specific circumstances.”
A complaint was filed by a French customs coastguard member to the public prosecutor in Boulogne-sur-Mer, alleging that on 11 August 2023, police officers instructed a National Society of Sea Rescues (SNSM) crew to damage a small boat that was already at sea, marking the third attempt to do so. In an email obtained during the investigation, the complainant, Rémi Vandeplanque, stated that the SNSM crew “clearly refused” to comply with the instruction, emphasizing the obvious and immediate risk of drowning if they had followed through.
Multiple witnesses who were on small boats headed for the UK have come forward with evidence supporting the allegations that French law enforcement has employed these tactics. According to one individual from India, “There were four French gendarmes on the boat. They circled around the boat and then punctured it before leaving. We had to swim for about 10 minutes … We were on the verge of death.” On February 9, 2024, this person filed a report with the French human rights ombudsman. The matter is currently being investigated.
According to officials in the French interior ministry, the UK government is consistently applying significant pressure for the French maritime police to stop small boat departures. One French employee characterized this pressure as intense and ceaseless.
A former high-ranking government employee, who remained in their position until the end of 2020, stated: “The British were determined to capture the boats at sea. They would often insist on it.”
Last September, former immigration minister Robert Jenrick stated in the House of Commons that further cooperation from the French government is necessary. He referred to a recent visit to Belgium where authorities successfully intercepted small boats leaving their shores. This tactic has drastically reduced the number of small boats from Belgian waters, and Jenrick urged the French to adopt a similar approach.
In August of 2021, while visiting the Greek island of Samos, Priti Patel, who was then the UK’s home secretary, accompanied the Greek coastguard on a patrol. The Greek coastguard is notorious for their forceful pushback tactics in the Aegean Sea.
According to a Home Office insider, the individual returned from the trip feeling energized. They were impressed by the assertiveness of the officials, their high success rate in identifying asylum seekers, and their efficient handling of them. The source also noted that the individual appreciated their approach of protecting borders and collaborating with the military, although they acknowledged that some aspects of this would not be permissible in the UK.
Since 2014, Britain has provided France with over £700 million specifically targeted at preventing irregular migration.
During a meeting in March 2023, Sunak declared that the United Kingdom would be providing £500 million to France for the purpose of hiring extra border officials, constructing a new detention center, and purchasing equipment such as video cameras, drones, and night-vision binoculars to enhance surveillance.
According to various sources within the French interior ministry, the package marked a significant change. A leader within the ministry stated, “This has solidified the relationship between the two nations on a legal basis.”
In the previous month, a collaboration was established between the UK and the European border agency Frontex to enhance the exchange of information and dispatch UK Border Force personnel to manage the response in the Channel.
In response to inquiries from this inquiry, the local government in northern France verified that a law enforcement vessel had encircled a small boat and that the purpose of this action was to discourage passengers from reaching the open sea. They stated, “This is the first time we have successfully used this maneuver to stop a small boat, and it proved to be an effective deterrent. All of the migrants were rescued and the smugglers were apprehended.”
A representative from the Home Office stated that the number of individuals crossing the Channel is concerning and that necessary actions will be taken to put an end to these unsafe and fatal voyages. The government remains dedicated to building upon their previous achievements, which resulted in a decrease of arrivals by over one third in the previous year.
“We have implemented stronger laws and established partnerships with other countries, and we maintain a close collaboration with our French counterparts who are dedicated to preventing loss of life and halting the flow of boats.”
Source: theguardian.com
