Charging Vietnamese families to repatriate their dead, trafficked, family members

As long as the British taxpayer does not have to pay. I am sorry that people died but they tried to cheat their way into this country instead of coming in the official way. I also think that people caught crossing the channel should be sent back and not brought into GB.

EllenVannin, They begged, borrowed and stole from friends and family, money lenders and some by selling their bodies. All the ways desperate people do when life is utterly hopeless but they see one, just one, small chink of light.

SirChen I am not trying to be difficult but the OP states that Dominic Raab is charging the families. You say you think that the UK govt has passed the cost to the Vietnamese Govt but I would like to know where it actually says this is the truth and not someone’s interpretation of it. I have looked on a couple of places and heard no mention of Dominic Raab or the UK govt. Where have you read it please so I can look it up. Thanks

SirChenjin do you think they are using these bereaved families as a warning to others who may be considering sending their young folk here via “traffickers”?

I think it’s both Govts - the UK govt has passed the cost to the Vietnamese Govt. I’m sure that it’s not beyond the abilities of these politicians to come to a better and kinder arrangement.

Take it out of the Foreign Aid budget. The government should be using that to cover the cost of for all deportations as well.

Sirchenjin totally agree, but it seems (as I see it) that the problem lies with the Vietnamese Government not ours.

This is a very different set of circumstances though. British men committed these crimes and as gallus rightly pointed out, there’s a method of funding their repatriation that wouldn’t cost the taxpayer anything (for those who are worried about that) which would show the UK to be the kind of compassionate country with values most of us uphold. It’s quite obvious that these families did not have insurance - it simply doesn’t apply here.

If a British citizen dies abroad (outside of the EU) it is down to the family to repatriate the body, usually paid for by holiday/health insurance.

Who actually said it was Dominic Raab charging the families? I have read it is the Vietnamese Embassy who has told the families they will have to pay. Can we get the true facts before we start saying what dreadful people we are in this country. If a British person dies abroad, who is responsible for getting the body back? Does anyone know?

We are part of the world Poppyred. We have a responsibility to the whole of humanity. We are a rich country.

I agree gallusquine (as I stated up thread)

The Vietnamese Government have paid the costs and are now charging the families. The Vietnamese Government and British Government together can recoup the money in that way so no family should have to pay anything.

Absolutely gallusquine

There are many ways that returning children and loved ones to their families could be facilitated. I'm not ashamed of my country but the judgement of this Govt leaves a lot to be desired.

Very sad story, and there are multiple viewpoints, but "makes me ashamed to be British"? Come on, that's a bit of an hysterical reaction? We can all have a view on what's right and wrong in these cases, but it would take a lot more than this to make me "ashamed" of my country. What about all the great things we do/have done? Let's try to get some balance and reasoning, FFS.

A sensible resolution gallusquine!

It would be good use of the Proceeds of Crime Fund to pay for the repatriation of the bodies surely.

It must have cost the UK thousands up to now with everyone involved with this case Police/NCA/Medical and all the other agencies involved so I think £78k is a drop in the ocean,when the criminals are found guilty their assets should be stripped and given over to cover the cost.

Taking advantage by risking their lives? Really - you see that as taking advantage?

Direct your ire at the multinationals and politicians who take full advantage of the UK - they’re the ones who deserve your lack of compassion. As for the open door policy - the Tories have been in power for how long? They’re quite happy to have the cheap labour from these countries, it’s what shores up the economy.

Ah but that’s the trouble MawB we are known all over the world for our generosity of spirit... far too many now taking advantage.

Riverwalk is right.
UK should repatriate and then extract the money from the smugglers. We know at least some of those involved so that's obviously possible.

we are not responsible for the rest of the world. We have enough problems of our own to deal with, child poverty and lack of basic social care for the elderly .....and the list goes on

Oh Poppyred have you not read the parable of the Good Samaritan?
Simple acts of humanity are what define a civilised society.

And still they come.... by fair means or foul. ......

Labour has been out of power for the past nine years

We don't know what arrangements were made between the two governments though, do we.
Perhaps our government was unaware that the families would be charged by the Vietnamese government.

I would like to know the full facts before commenting more except to say that the families should not have been charged at all.

Maw B

We are a broken country because of Labour’s open door policy. What a waste of our resources- we are not responsible for the rest of the world. We have enough problems of our own to deal with, child poverty and lack of basic social care for the elderly .....and the list goes on.