In a jaw-dropping turn of events, French navy officers refused to rescue 60 distressed migrants on a sinking boat and instead asked the UK Border Force for help. The boat, which was packed with mostly men, was struggling in the Channel early this morning, with water filling the inflatable vessel.
The situation began when the French authorities spent hours shadowing the boat, which was drifting dangerously across the Channel. As the migrants waved their hands in distress and screamed for help, it became clear the boat was in serious trouble. However, instead of intervening, the French authorities simply radioed the UK Border Force to step in, as reported by Daily Mail.
After following the boat for several hours, around 1.3 miles from the French coast, French officials contacted British services around 10 am. One French officer reported that the boat was full of water, and the migrants were desperately signaling for help. A recorded exchange showed the French asking if the UK could send a rescue vessel: “Do you have a rib to clear the situation if possible?” the French official asked.
The UK Border Force responded, suggesting the French launch their own rescue vessel and, if needed, the UK would step in. Eventually, the French complied, and after a further nine miles, the migrants were handed over to the UK Border Force. The boat was then brought back to Dover.
One shocked witness described the situation as “a complete taxi service,” adding that the French knew the migrants were in distress but chose not to act. “They didn’t rescue them, they just handed them off to Britain,” the witness said. Others shared the same sentiment, accusing the French of effectively ensuring the migrants made it to UK waters rather than offering any real help.
The latest numbers show a worrying increase in Channel crossings. Over the past few days, more than 1,000 migrants have arrived in the UK, with 326 crossing in just six boats yesterday alone. The Home Office confirmed that this year has already seen 3,224 arrivals, an 8% increase compared to last year.
The French government, meanwhile, is considering lifting its ban on intercepting migrant boats in an attempt to stop the rising number of crossings. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has called for the country’s forces to have the authority to intercept boats in the water, even if they are already afloat.
The move comes after the UK and France implemented floating dams to block smaller boats from accessing the sea, but smugglers are now using a new tactic: “taxi boats.” This method sees migrants picked up from the water to avoid French border checks, with fears that numbers will continue to rise as the weather warms up.
Retailleau has pushed for a change in policy, stating, “We need to rethink our approach so that we can intercept the boats within 300 meters of the coast.” However, for now, the UK’s role in these dangerous rescues appears to be growing.
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