German rules re people smuggling..

We reached our limit a long time ago, yet we are still setting out the welcome mat.

What 'limit' might that be and who decided on it?

They’re in a safe country as they’re already in Germany!

It doesn't matter how often international law on asylum seekers is explained there's always at least one bright spark on an immigration thread who comes up with this little gem.

Asylum seekers do not have to apply for asylum in the first safe country they reach. I suspect that posters who cling to this wrong belief just enjoy getting wound up about asylum seekers and don't want an iota of their dog whistles removed.😡

If I remember correctly, before he became Prime Minister, Starmer stated that he wanted to create a safer way for people to reach the UK. He wants to stop the boats but not illegal immigrants.
The whole system needs to be changed. Each European country (including Britain) should agree to take a certain number of asylum seekers. When that quota is reached, they should refuse any more.
We reached our limit a long time ago, yet we are still setting out the welcome mat.

At last- something is being seen to be done.Well done Yvette,at last a grown up in the room.

MayBee70

Perhaps, with all the stories coming out of Syria, some people might start to realise why people risk their lives to get to a safe country?

They’re in a safe country as they’re already in Germany!
Making it a criminal offence is one thing, the police there having the ‘will’ to arrest them is quite another.As posters say, it’s amazing that journalists can find them but authorities can’t, well it all comes down to the will to do it.

I would like to think you are right Maybee! Some impact in the labelling of all migrants and the hatred generated.

Perhaps, with all the stories coming out of Syria, some people might start to realise why people risk their lives to get to a safe country?

MaggsMcG

It's not fair to blame the UK if these people want to risk their lives and fail. The crossing is dangerous drowning in freezing water is a very high risk. Its not the Coast Guards fault.

I don't see anyone "blaming the UK" for them trying to cross dangerous waters in leaky boats provided by greedy entrepreneurs wanting to get as much as they can out of desperate people. Degrees of desperation may vary from risking their lives and their children's lives if they stay where they are, to looking for a better life with more opportunities than are available for themselves and their children in their home country, but no-one trusts to a dodgy boat unless they hope it may lead to a vast improvement of some kind for them.

I blame a combination of the situation in their own country, be it war, oppression or extreme poverty, and the avarice of those who are ready to risk other people's lives for profit.

It's not fair to blame the UK if these people want to risk their lives and fail. The crossing is dangerous drowning in freezing water is a very high risk. Its not the Coast Guards fault.

PoliticsNerd

This is real work being done.

There is a long way to go. But if the UK leaves the Trumpian and extreme capitalist ideas of the far right behind - where they only see winners and losers - we can return to being the great negotiators Great Britain was once renown for, leaving the mess of Brexit behind us an forging new ties with our nearest neighbours which are good for us all.

👏👏👏👏👏👏

GrannyGravy13

I will be pleased to see these evil people traffickers behind bars and their assets confiscated.

Me too!

Yes, too true. I am sick of the Labour bashing Tories and Media. How on earth do people think we're going to fix all the problems we have without the funds to do it? Toughen up guys. At the moment it's whinge whinge whinge.

Thank you for sharing the news. Good for Cooper.

Indeed GG13!

Literally Hundreds of gangs from inside Europe. Half a billion ££s already given to France. It’s dispiriting.

Welcome as the initiative is, the proof of the pudding etc etc.
70 people have lost their lives this year crossing the Channel.

Surely this is a step in the right direction. It's good to hear of co- operative working with our European neighbours.

petra

Some time ago there was a piece on the news showing some underground reporters meeting up with people smugglers.
The people smuggler told them that it wasn’t illegle to smuggle people out of Germany.

I’m always surprised when journalists can locate the smugglers but police forces/border control cannot 🤷‍♀️

That's right, it wasn't illegal if the destination was to a non EU country, hence the need for Cooper to get an agreement.

Some time ago there was a piece on the news showing some underground reporters meeting up with people smugglers.
The people smuggler told them that it wasn’t illegle to smuggle people out of Germany.

I will be pleased to see these evil people traffickers behind bars and their assets confiscated.

This is real work being done.

There is a long way to go. But if the UK leaves the Trumpian and extreme capitalist ideas of the far right behind - where they only see winners and losers - we can return to being the great negotiators Great Britain was once renown for, leaving the mess of Brexit behind us an forging new ties with our nearest neighbours which are good for us all.

Well done, Yvette Cooper. I hope it works to break the smuggling gangs operating out of Germany.