Why do Asylum Seekers cross the channel on small boats

BevSec

Dr Max Pemberton in the Daly Mail today reports treating a convicted rapist who was indignant about being convicted because the woman he raped was not wearing a hijab so was ok to rape!

💯shock

The logistics of looking after them all is mind boggling.

petra

silverlining48

I watch news tv but the number of asylum seekers has not been mentioned for ages.

It was on the news several times yesterday that 500 people crossed the Chanel in small boats yesterday.

500! In just one day?😲

growstuff

Oreo

They were safe from persecution and execution in France.I don’t think that excuse washes to be frank.
If they actively prefer to be in the UK that’s a different matter.They clearly do want to be here but may think it will be better than it really is.Or our benefits and treatment of Asylum seekers may be genuinely a good deal better than staying in France.

Why do you think they should stay in France? Why not Italy or Spain or Greece or wherever they first landed on European soil? There is absolutely no reason in international law why asylum seekers should choose France over the UK.

Putting myself in their shoes I wouldn’t stay in any of those countries but would choose Germany or France.
I certainly wouldn’t choose the UK however good I thought any benefits or life would be like when it meant getting into a dinghy filled to bursting and trying to cross the Channel.
Hang International Law when you could easily drown.

silverlining48

I watch news tv but the number of asylum seekers has not been mentioned for ages.

It was on the news several times yesterday that 500 people crossed the Chanel in small boats yesterday.

I didn’t see that ronib, but it’s certainly not been a daily news item for several years, only when something specific has happened.

Casdon I think Nigel Farage was pretty vocal about asylum seekers about six months ago. NF was filmed on a boat checking out the numbers just pre election.

It’s no longer news, it’s been happening since 2018. In the last year, it’s only mentioned when some poor unfortunates lose their lives.

silverlining48 do you remember roughly when it stopped being mentioned? Just after the election I am guessing?

I watch news tv but the number of asylum seekers has not been mentioned for ages.

Cadeby

Oreo

Cadeby

"The thousands I’ve seen disembarking"

What fuels this nonsense? Its beyond me , really.

Why nonsense? If you live near a port it’s quite feasible that you would see thousands over the course of a couple of years.

Wouldn't you be too busy at work, socialising, being with family ,to be obsessing over how many people arrive?

Give it a rest Cadeby please. You seem to be the one who is obsessed actually. The figures are on TV and Internet every day so you can hardly miss them.

It’s a relief to catch up with this thread and see the disgusting comments about asylum seekers being challenged by posters who have first hand knowledge.
FWIW I know 3 border force workers very well, one of them now aged 40, since she was 11. They find their work demoralising because they recognise the majority seeking asylum meet the criteria that means that’s what they’ll,get. Demoralised, nit because we meet our legal responsibilities but because so many here don’t understand the law or the circumstances that lead to these people seeking sanctuary

That was me mollygo. You still haven't said what your facts and statistics are.

Chestnut

Hooray! Another six boats of doctors and dentists have arrived.

Thats just horrible really.

Oreo

Cadeby

"The thousands I’ve seen disembarking"

What fuels this nonsense? Its beyond me , really.

Why nonsense? If you live near a port it’s quite feasible that you would see thousands over the course of a couple of years.

Wouldn't you be too busy at work, socialising, being with family ,to be obsessing over how many people arrive?

Mollygo

The false narrative I read from Babs03 is exactly that. It’s her opinion, I think she said. From working with refugees back in the 90s.
It’s like the post further down which says
^Aye, right. And one border official's opinion means it all must be true.^

Just to correct.
I worked as a volunteer with AS 5 years ago for 2 years. Another poster worked with them in the 90s.

Well, I realise that there are people whose minds are made up with regard to AS and am sure they could say the same about me.
Am not attempting to prove I am right about this or that others are wrong, but I do think we need to keep an open mind and look at all possible information about this, not just one newspaper or anecdote from a friend of a friend.
That goes for me too obvs. And I do try to look at as many news outlets and publications as possible.
In any case is nearly dinner time and I think this thread is really just going round in circles, so will wish you all a good evening and agree to disagree with those I cannot see eye to eye with.

The false narrative I read from Babs03 is exactly that. It’s her opinion, I think she said. From working with refugees back in the 90s.
It’s like the post further down which says
Aye, right. And one border official's opinion means it all must be true.

The reason why asylum seekers come to the UK rather than other European countries are various. Many have a rudimentary knowledge of English. That is why Morrocan and Algerian immigrants prefer France, because they speak the language.
Or they already know someone who lives here and can vouch for them. If it was merely down to benefits they would all be making a beeline for Germany, Sweden, and Norway, where AS are known to be treated much better by the governments there.

The ones who come to the UK, come here because many already have family and friends here who can help and support them and/or they already speak English. In France, Italy or anywhere else they are at a disadvantage because they do not speak the langiage and have no family or community support.

growstuff

Primrose53

growstuff

Primrose53

Babs03 surely you’ve seen the news and newspaper photos of immigrants arriving on our shores. Completely the opposite of the “cowed, scared” people who avoid eye contact.

The thousands I’ve seen disembarking are all fit young men either giving the Victory or thumbs up sign and waving and cheering. They don’t look cowed or scared at all.

I said on here months ago that I know a Border Force official very well and what he has to say confirms what I see with my own eyes.

Do you volunteer for the RNLI or work for Border Force (or - heaven forbid - are you Nigel Farage? Don't you have anything better to do with your time than watch people disembarking from boats?

Why the sneering post growstuff? I thought things were improving today and then along comes your post. There really is no need.

If you reread my posts I made it very clear that I had seen photos on TV and in newspapers. I did not say I stood and watched them so please stop putting words in my mouth.

Sneering? It was a simple question. I really am somewhat incredulous that anybody sits and watches their TV often enough to see video of thousands of people disembarking.

Whatever floats your boat, I suppose.

Don’t you realise you are still doing it? Why bringNF into your “simple question”?

Then you had to get in the dig(again)about how YOU think I spend my time. Every day, hundreds of illegal immigrants arrive and most days they are filmed for TV. It doesn’t take many weeks and very short clips to turn it into”thousands” does it?

Oreo

silverlining48

I don’t live far from Dover. People in inflatables don’t row onto the beach but are usually brought in by lifeboats or other large boats way before they get to the port, so unless someone lives with a window facing that part of the harbour ( unlikely) or stands around waiting every day, it just woukdnt be possible to see thousands of asylum seekers arrive. If I am in Dover I watch the sea and so far have not seen any boats at all.

You may not have seen them but you know that thousands do arrive.
I haven’t seen a stabbing but it goes on all around us.If a poster lives where the AS’s are brought in regularly and has seen them, why all the disbelief.

Of course people know that thousands of people arrive - I prefer to get my information from official sources.

Primrose53

growstuff

Primrose53

Babs03 surely you’ve seen the news and newspaper photos of immigrants arriving on our shores. Completely the opposite of the “cowed, scared” people who avoid eye contact.

The thousands I’ve seen disembarking are all fit young men either giving the Victory or thumbs up sign and waving and cheering. They don’t look cowed or scared at all.

I said on here months ago that I know a Border Force official very well and what he has to say confirms what I see with my own eyes.

Do you volunteer for the RNLI or work for Border Force (or - heaven forbid - are you Nigel Farage? Don't you have anything better to do with your time than watch people disembarking from boats?

Why the sneering post growstuff? I thought things were improving today and then along comes your post. There really is no need.

If you reread my posts I made it very clear that I had seen photos on TV and in newspapers. I did not say I stood and watched them so please stop putting words in my mouth.

Sneering? It was a simple question. I really am somewhat incredulous that anybody sits and watches their TV often enough to see video of thousands of people disembarking.

Whatever floats your boat, I suppose.

Oreo

They were safe from persecution and execution in France.I don’t think that excuse washes to be frank.
If they actively prefer to be in the UK that’s a different matter.They clearly do want to be here but may think it will be better than it really is.Or our benefits and treatment of Asylum seekers may be genuinely a good deal better than staying in France.

Why do you think they should stay in France? Why not Italy or Spain or Greece or wherever they first landed on European soil? There is absolutely no reason in international law why asylum seekers should choose France over the UK.

BevSec

Please take the time to read values, voice and virtues new British Politics by professor Matthew Goodwin.

No, thank you. I'd rather read something by somebody not quite so extreme in his views.