London: Priti Patel is preparing to send back small boats carrying migrants in the Channel despite warnings from the French authorities that it could endanger lives. Border Force staff are being trained to employ “turn-around” tactics at sea under plans developed for two years, a statement from the Home Office said. It would allow UK officers to force small boats back into French waters. It is unclear if the proposals would include taking migrants back to French shores. The proposals have already been rejected by the French government. A letter released on Wednesday showed they could not be accepted by the interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, on the grounds that “safeguarding human lives at sea takes priority over considerations of nationality, status and migratory policy”.
He has warned the UK that employing such tactics “would risk having a negative impact on our cooperation”. The tactics will be used, the Home Office has said, with the intention of redirecting migrant vessels away from UK waters and back towards France. Training, which is weather dependent, is due to conclude this month, with use of the tactics ready to deploy as soon as practical and safe. Border Force has informed ministers they will only be able to deploy the tactics, which have been developed in consultation with maritime experts, when they deem it safe to do so. In a statement, the Home Office said Patel had become “the first home secretary to establish a legal basis for the sea tactics, working with acting attorney general Michael Ellis and expert QCs.”
Read more: Rajeev Syal, Guardian, https://is.gd/V5kgPT
