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We need a solution but is this the right one?

(46 Posts)
Sarnia Fri 04-Jul-25 15:58:04

The French Police have slashed a rubber boat attempting to cross the Channel.
We have to do something about it but I can see this getting really violent if this is now their way of dealing with the problem.
What do other GN's think?

escaped Mon 07-Jul-25 08:12:01

Gearing up for Macron's state visit to the UK, I've noticed that the French press are concentrating more on the pomp and ceremony of the occasion - meeting royalty etc - than the political discussions. Typical! I wonder how much will actually be achieved. Starmer has to get some kind of agreement from Macron to take any scheme forward. 🤞
At least the British weather will show us off at our finest. 🌞

escaped Sat 05-Jul-25 14:32:41

No worries, MaizieD, easily done with so much written all over the Internet.

I do spend a bit of time, as a sort of hobby, comparing French news reports with the English ones whilst here in France.
My understanding is that Starmer will push Macron for the 300 metres agreement next week, but nothing is simple.

(PS. I'm not actually "on holiday" here in the true sense, just incase anyone thinks I'm a bit weird to be bothering with the news!)

MaizieD Sat 05-Jul-25 12:09:19

Well, my apologies, escaped for trusting that AI couldn't get a simple search wrong!

Doing my own search I find that the situation is not so simple, even the BBC article acknowledges that, and that the subject is still under discussion between the UK and France.

Moral : Don't trust AI to get it right grin

escaped Sat 05-Jul-25 09:07:33

Thanks. I'm interested as to whether things get lost in translation across the channel, and how reports then differ.
I think it has always been legal for the police to "assist" in any way they see appropriate if, as in this case, when faced with un danger immédiat. The craft was deemed très fragile, overloaded at the back, according yo the Préfecture report, and so the authorities had to intervene.

MaizieD Sat 05-Jul-25 08:50:14

escaped

Can you provide a link to this please? Here in France I'm reading that there is no such arrêté officiel (official decree) about the 300 metres yet, but it is to be discussed between Macron and Starmer this week.

My statement was the result of an internet search, admittedly using AI. I thought it couldn’t possibly get such a simple search as that wrong, and also, I’d read about a definite policy change, regarding the police being allowed to enter the water, a week or so ago.

I don’t see why it would be filmed by the BBC if wasn’t absolutely legal for the French police to enter the water.

I’ll recheck…

Maremia Sat 05-Jul-25 08:20:19

Does anyone remember the Kosovan refugees, who came here because of the war? Seeking asylum, which we gave them.
When that was resolved, they all went home.

Primrose53 Sat 05-Jul-25 08:14:30

Sarnia

Primrose53

Allsorts

If this had been done from day 1 there would not be the huge problem we have. How come it takes so long for the penny to drop, the people who have died and the people rich on others misery.

True. Many people suggested this was the way to stop the rubber boats months ago. Instead we gave France millions to sort this out and they did nothing whatsoever.

france should have been stopping them entering their country in the first place. Poland has the right idea.

Most of the Poles are over here so perhaps they have the room.

Most went back several years ago as their economy improved.

Sarnia Sat 05-Jul-25 08:11:34

Primrose53

Allsorts

If this had been done from day 1 there would not be the huge problem we have. How come it takes so long for the penny to drop, the people who have died and the people rich on others misery.

True. Many people suggested this was the way to stop the rubber boats months ago. Instead we gave France millions to sort this out and they did nothing whatsoever.

france should have been stopping them entering their country in the first place. Poland has the right idea.

Most of the Poles are over here so perhaps they have the room.

Primrose53 Sat 05-Jul-25 08:09:37

Allsorts

If this had been done from day 1 there would not be the huge problem we have. How come it takes so long for the penny to drop, the people who have died and the people rich on others misery.

True. Many people suggested this was the way to stop the rubber boats months ago. Instead we gave France millions to sort this out and they did nothing whatsoever.

france should have been stopping them entering their country in the first place. Poland has the right idea.

escaped Sat 05-Jul-25 08:04:41

MaizieD

The French police are now legally permitted to enter shallow water, up to 300metres from the shore, to stop migrant boats.

This came into force from the 1st of July.

This is why the BBC were there filming. It is a new policy.

That was for clarification of MaizieD's post.

escaped Sat 05-Jul-25 08:03:54

Can you provide a link to this please? Here in France I'm reading that there is no such arrêté officiel (official decree) about the 300 metres yet, but it is to be discussed between Macron and Starmer this week.

windmill1 Sat 05-Jul-25 05:48:59

Whitewavemark2

Immigration is only going to grow because of climate and unfortunately violence around the world.

Nothing will change until the world gets together to get a grip of the issue, and accept that it is happening, that people need to live in safety, free from starvation and impossible weather conditions.

The attitude at present is too parochial - we need a much bigger overview of the subject.

There is no hope whatsoever of things improving while Madman Trump is in charge of The White House - he's extremely erratic and explosively volatile. He is clearly unhinged but, frighteningly, he's the leader the Americans want.

MayBee70 Sat 05-Jul-25 00:48:49

Allsorts

If this had been done from day 1 there would not be the huge problem we have. How come it takes so long for the penny to drop, the people who have died and the people rich on others misery.

We lost some of the legal means of returning people to other countries because of Brexit I believe. I would assume this new initiative is something the government have been negotiating with the French?

Allira Fri 04-Jul-25 23:11:43

Whitewavemark2

Millions of children will die as a result of the U.K. and USA cutting the aid budget, and subsequent vaccination programmes.

I think it is one of the meanest things.

Sorry I diverse!

Well, none of the men climbing on board seemed to care about the young girl on board, she could have been suffocated for all they seemed to care.

merlotgran Fri 04-Jul-25 23:07:22

The French police are now legally permitted to enter shallow water, up to 300metres from the shore, to stop migrant boats.

Hopefully one of them will be carrying a tape measure.

Deedaa Fri 04-Jul-25 22:51:29

Compared with some of the suggestions from members of the British public this looked quite a low key way of stopping them.

MaizieD Fri 04-Jul-25 22:45:29

The French police are now legally permitted to enter shallow water, up to 300metres from the shore, to stop migrant boats.

This came into force from the 1st of July.

This is why the BBC were there filming. It is a new policy.

Spinnaker Fri 04-Jul-25 20:12:12

The more they slash the better

Allsorts Fri 04-Jul-25 19:51:13

If this had been done from day 1 there would not be the huge problem we have. How come it takes so long for the penny to drop, the people who have died and the people rich on others misery.

MayBee70 Fri 04-Jul-25 19:48:29

Whitewavemark2

Millions of children will die as a result of the U.K. and USA cutting the aid budget, and subsequent vaccination programmes.

I think it is one of the meanest things.

Sorry I diverse!

I heard that last night ( catching up with TRIP’s). They said ( I think) that vaccination programmes are the most cost effective ways of doing good. One of the reasons I believe is that the health guy in America is an anti vacc’er sad. Everything just goes from bad to worse.

AGAA4 Fri 04-Jul-25 19:43:08

David49

Slash all the boats, I simply dont believe the French don’t have the needed surveillance and security resources to do it

It is illegal at present for the French police to go into the water. I think they are trying to change that law. It seems wrong that if the boat is in the water they have to stand there and let it go. They use taxi boats now so they pick people up from the sea.
Police in a predicament because of the law.

David49 Fri 04-Jul-25 19:39:35

Slash all the boats, I simply dont believe the French don’t have the needed surveillance and security resources to do it

spottybook Fri 04-Jul-25 19:38:41

They need stopping by any means. They have already passed through safe countries and we really don't have the wherewithal or capacity to support them any longer. Our benefits system, hospitality and compassion has been abused for long enough.

Kandinsky Fri 04-Jul-25 19:19:58

Good.
They should slash all the boats.

woodenspoon Fri 04-Jul-25 19:17:56

Them.