In a desperate attempt to curb the influx of migrants crossing the English Channel, French police officers have resorted to puncturing inflatable boats used by migrants. The incident, which took place on the beach of Graveline near Dunkirk, was captured in photographs that have since sparked controversy.
The images depict a French officer wielding a knife after puncturing a small boat carrying migrants, who were reportedly preparing to embark on their journey to Britain. The migrants, believed to be from Sudan and Vietnam, were visibly disheartened as their voyage was abruptly halted by the officers. Some of these migrants had reportedly paid as much as £1000 for the journey.
The police also employed other methods to disperse the groups, including the use of pepper spray. Despite these efforts, another boat arrived just 15 minutes later, with the migrants quickly boarding and setting off before the officers could intervene.
This incident comes in the wake of heightened efforts to prevent small boat journeys following the tragic deaths of five migrants who were attempting to cross the English Channel earlier this week. A dinghy carrying over 100 people had set off from Wimereux but encountered difficulties. While 49 people were rescued, 58 others refused to leave the boat, continuing their journey towards the UK.
In response to the incident, two men were charged on Friday. Yien Both, a 22-year-old from South Sudan, was charged with assisting unlawful immigration and attempting to arrive in the UK without valid entry clearance. Similarly, Tajdeen Abdulaziz Juma, a 22-year-old Sudanese national, was charged with attempting to arrive in the UK without valid entry clearance. Both men are currently in custody and are expected to appear before Folkestone Magistrates' Court. An 18-year-old man from Sudan has been bailed pending further inquiries.
The French authorities have been urged to ramp up their efforts to prevent further crossings. However, one officer described the task as “impossible,” likening it to "playing whack-a-mole." An Interior Ministry source based in northern France expressed concern over the police's reluctance to confront smuggling gangs, stating that “something needs to change, and to change quickly.”
So far this year, approximately 6,500 people have arrived in England on small boats from France. Amidst the ongoing crisis, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has suggested that the Rwanda policy, which involves sending migrants to Rwanda, would deter people from making the perilous journey. The Rwandan government has expressed its willingness to accept as many migrants as Britain sends its way.
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