French rescue crews reportedly accompanied migrant boat despite £662m deal
The article reports that a migrant boat travelled from Normandy to England with assistance from French maritime rescue services, which reportedly provided lifejackets and monitored the vessel. It presents the incident as evidence that France’s cooperation with Britain on Channel crossings is ineffective, despite a £662 million three-year agreement intended to strengthen enforcement and surveillance.
According to the article, about 50 people initially boarded near Port-en-Bessin, with roughly 15 more joining at Varaville, bringing the total to more than 60. French rescue crews and a naval vessel allegedly accompanied the boat for much of its 36-hour journey before British Border Force took the migrants to Dover; French officials dispute or have not been shown to endorse the article’s characterisation of their actions as “collusion”.
- A migrant boat reportedly travelled from Normandy to England over 36 hours.
- French rescue services supplied lifejackets and monitored the vessel.
- The incident raises questions about Britain’s £662m Channel agreement.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Daily Mail as “Damning photo that makes a mockery of Britain’s £662m deal with France to help stop small boats crossing Channel”.