The French should spend time, money and resources on this because it would be the right thing to do. .
Indeed. I admire your idealism and I agree with it. But when has any country done the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do? The French have their own share of problems to deal with, and spending money, time and resources on non nationals isn't likely to be a priority. Nor would it be for any other country in the same circumstances I suspect.
Doesn't the UK contribute financially to this? I think we used to but that's beside the point. IMO everything within reason should be done to prevent people setting off across the sea as that is quite obviously a dangerous thing to do.
Yes, the UK does contribute financially, though it doesn't pay 100% of the costs of patrolling the coast either on land or at sea. The French Tax Payer is still paying to stop people from getting to our shores.
The French may indeed be quite happy too see immigrants leave French territory or waters. I don't know. I may be wrong but going on past reports of refugee/immigrant camps which people seemed to be shepherded to as staging off points the suspicion is there that this happens with the French authorities turning a blind eye or even at worst colluding.
I have no idea whether the French are happy to see migrants leave or not. I suspect they may feel, that the UK should do more to accommodate those who want to come here rather than leaving it for those countries in mainland europe to shoulder the bulk of the burden.
It was largely due to pressure from the UK that 'the jungle' refugee camp was broken up. And what did achieve? Not a lot, refugee encampments have been created at a number of locations in France and more people try to cross by boat now. We haven't sorted the problem out, we have displaced it.
Perhaps the arrival of a UK coast guard ship in this instance was coincidence and without collusion of any kind. Even if everyone involved is of pure motive we're still left with the fact that an overloaded small boat was apparently at least partially escorted through French waters and into UK waters and that clearly risked lives. Lets hope to god they're not colluding in it if only by turning a blind eye.
Surely if the French patrol boat did not shadow the migrant boat, that would have risked lives? If the migrant boat capsized whilst alone, the liklihood is that everyone onboard would die. If the French patrol boat was nearby it could assist in case of disaster.
Yes, the desperate people will probably try again but that's all the more reason to police this better in France/wherever. This isn't sub contracting control of our borders it's common sense and in the interest of preserving lives. I don't see a Brexit issue here. The aim should be to detain people if necessary for their own safety in France (or wherever) before they set off in over crowded boats until they can be processed for entry into the UK or passed to some other country that'll take them.
People will keep doing what they want to do, regardless of the risk, particularly if they are desperate. You cannot police this problem away. You might reduce the numbers, but you won't stop it. If you really want to sort this problem out, you need to treat the causes and the not symptoms.
In the meantime, if you want to reduce illegal migration, maybe part of the solution is to persuade the UK government to take in more refugees. If people could go to see UK officials in France and apply to come to the UK, then perhaps they will not risk their lives crossing in these tiny overcrowded boats. I think that perhaps it would be better to persuade the UK goverment to accept more people into this country, than ask the French to spend more of their time and money in stopping migrants from making the crossing.
Whilst you are right, it is a humanitarian issue, it is also undeniably a border control issue. We were told that we were taking back control of our borders. We have not. Everyone that lands on our shores is a testament of the failure of Pritti Patel and the whole government, to fulfill their own pledge. Asking the French to protect our borders is sub contracting the job to them. Maybe if we keep asking the French to do more and more, they will simply get fed up and decide not assist at all. I'm not sure the UK would be too happy with the consequences of that.
PS.
Just a little story. Nothing to do with this as far as I know but something to think about. Mrs WW went to a function last year, I didn't go, I just dropped her off then went off with my camera and picked her up again later. Anyway, she met an Egyptian guy who had to flee and he's now in the UK. He can't go back as he'd be killed as his name identifies him of being the of the wrong group. Imagine that. Imagine being killed because of your name. My heart aches for the people who are so desperate they'll go though the process of fleeing to another country and I know we can't take them all but surely we can do better to try and ensure they're not chugging across one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world in an overloaded dinghy.
I agree, it is a disgrace that this state of affairs exists in the world today. Things will not change until we make it clear to our leaders that we demand that they act in the best interests of all humanity and that a failure to do so will see them out of office. Alas, altruism and compassion seem to be very short supply these days. People are far more interested in petty trivia and our domestic political squabbles and so more people will drown in the channel, the mediterranean, and elsewhere:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world...hundreds-of-refugees-stranded-in-boats-at-sea
Alas, you and I are minority. The majority of people simply don't care enough and so these desperate people will carry on dying.