By Government drops plans to turn back migrants crossing English Channel
The UK government have dropped plans that would see migrants being turned away after crossing the English Channel, the BBC said.
Campaigners stated the policy, which would have permitted Border Force patrols the power to intercept and turn away boats, was inhumane and posed a risk to life.
The PCS civil servants’ union labelled the government’s U-tun as a “humiliating climbdown”
The Home Office has claimed that ministers were “unified” in eradicating people crossing the Channel.
The news comes as the policy was due to be challenged in the High Court in just over one week.
Additional controversial measures were also announced last week as plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda had been published.
This separate plan hoped to reduce the number of migrants crossing the Channel.
It is understood that the Royal Navy were set to take charge of responding to smaller sized boats in the English Channel, alongside Border Force patrols.
In addition to the PCS, campaign groups Care4Calais, Channel Rescue and Freedom from Torture have raised concerns over the legality of Border Force pushing vessels back.
The groups also argued that pushing back ships carrying migrants would infringe on their human rights.
Following the plans’ cancellation, their judicial review claims have since been withdrawn, which were due to be heard on 3 May.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka stated:
“This humiliating climbdown by the government is a stunning victory for Home Office workers and for refugees”
“PCS is proud to have brought this legal action alongside refugee groups in order to prevent this morally reprehensible and utterly inhumane proposal from ever seeing the light of day. There is little doubt that lives have been saved”
A spokesperson for the Home Office said:
“The entire government is united in our efforts to prevent these lethal crossings and break the business model of the criminal gangs exploiting people”
“It is right that we consider all safe and legal options to stop these unnecessary journeys, including turning boats around”, they added.
“As we have set out previously, this tactic fully complies with both domestic and international law. However, there are extremely limited circumstances when you can safely turn boats back in the English Channel.”
According to the BBC, last year Board Force had been granted permission by the government to use the tactic of turning back boats with migrants inside, but only under specific circumstances.
