The English Channel

[Fatboy123]

Am heart brokenly sad at what happened in the English Channel yesterday. Utterly appalling!

Listening to the news this morning and was surprised to hear everyone blaming "people traffickers". We have people traffickers because people choose to pay them huge sums of money to do something that they know is illegal. These people are choosing to bypass the legal ways to get into the UK to get into tiny unseaworthy boats despite numerous drownings. France is perfectly safe as were any number of the EU countries passed through on the way to the English Channel.

Seriously what the hell is going on!

AND in other news... UK food bank usage is at a record high and people living in poverty is also on the way up.

 

[rhobbyh]

Until I read this it hadn't occurred to me that the people traffickers are just innocent pawns and trying to make a living just like the next man

 

[Fatboy123]

Didn't day they were innocent. Just that if they weren't given £5,000 they wouldn't be sticking people in small boats to illegally cross the channel.

 

[Bassmansam]

Check out some videos of zebras crossing the masai mara river, it doesn’t end well for some of them eiher

life can be brutalz…

 

[VincentHanna]

These people are choosing to bypass the legal ways to get into the UK

What legal ways do they have to get in to the UK?

We have small Syrian and Afghanistan resettlement schemes, that's about it.

 

[mikeyw85]

I understand your point. These people crossing aren't in a desperate situation that the trafficers are taking advantage of. They are willing to take a risk to get to somewhere they think is going to be better for them. Some may have family here, but what proportion that is, i'm not sure. I sympathise with France that it's difficult to patrol the coastline entirely, and once a crossing starts, law says all you can do is escort them.

 

[jsmoke]

No life jackets?

 

[Dyson]

Didn't day they were innocent. Just that if they weren't given £5,000 they wouldn't be sticking people in small boats to illegally cross the channel.

£5k you say?...

 

[Fatboy123]

No life jackets?

At this time of year its hyperthermia regardless of life jacket.

 

[cheesyboy]

Didn't day they were innocent. Just that if they weren't given £5,000 they wouldn't be sticking people in small boats to illegally cross the channel.

If our government allowed safe and legal crossings, there would be no people traffickers and no deaths.

 

[Chris Wilson]

What legal ways do they have to get in to the UK?

We have small Syrian and Afghanistan resettlement schemes, that's about it.

What legal ways have I to get into The Bank of England's vaults? So my breaking in is justified and to be assisted and made a safe venture? Ludicrous comment...

 

[Fatboy123]

£5k you say?...

Was reading in I think The Guardian a woman had paid £5,000 to be taken from Istanbul to the UK. She said she'd been hidden in a truck "for a number of days". Was then thrown out and taken to a small boat on the English Channel. She'd refused to get in and was now destitute.

 

[diamount]

At this time of year its hyperthermia regardless of life jacket.

The migrants drowned in-this case and I imagine they would survive long enough for the coast guard to pick them up?

 

[Bassmansam]

So if i fancied a trip to france without paying could i just in a blow up 1 man boat and paddle to france with no penalty?

 

[Fatboy123]

If our government allowed safe and legal crossings, there would be no people traffickers and no deaths.

They do. I recently paid £70 odd for a Eurostar from Paris to London.

 

[Fatboy123]

The migrants drowned in-this case and I imagine they would survive long enough for the coast guard to pick them up?

Yup, drowning usually follows hyperthermia which at current sea temps would be minutes.

 

[cheesyboy]

They do. I recently paid £70 odd for a Eurostar from Paris to London.

I don't think passport control is quite the same experience for asylum seekers tbh.

 

[Roar87]

If our government allowed safe and legal crossings, there would be no people traffickers and no deaths.

To what end? Unlimited free legal migration to the UK at the cost of the UK tax payer? Do you know any country in the world that does this?

 

[cheesyboy]

To what end? Unlimited free legal migration to the UK at the cost of the UK tax payer? Do you know any country in the world that does this?

Most of continental Europe, since it shares uncontrolled land borders with entry points.

 

[potatolord]

If our government allowed safe and legal crossings, there would be no people traffickers and no deaths.

The government permits entry to the UK. That is, by definition, legal. Generally aviation, rail and ferry crossings are safe.

Could you explain your point better?