advertisement

UK names 'Channel threat commander' as boat crossings surge

LONDON (AP) - The British government has appointed a former Royal Marine commando to try to stop people crossing the English Channel from France in small boats.

The government said Sunday that Dan O'Mahoney, who currently heads the U.K.'s Joint Maritime Security Center, has been named 'œclandestine Channel threat commander.'ť

Home Secretary Priti Patel said O'~Mahoney would work with French authorities on stronger enforcement measures, including intercepting boats at sea, 'œto make this route unviable.'ť

Britain's Conservative government has talked tough amid a surge in the number of migrants crossing the Channel during recent warm summer weather. On Thursday, 235 people were brought ashore, a record number for a single day. More than 650 have arrived so far in August, including babies and unaccompanied children.

Patel has said the Royal Navy could be called in to prevent boats reaching U.K. waters, though other senior officials and politicians say that would be impractical and potentially dangerous.

On Saturday the Ministry of Defense said it had received a government request to 'œsupport U.K. Border Force operations'ť and was looking into how it could best help.

Migrants have long used northern France as a launching point to reach Britain, either in trucks through the Channel tunnel or on ferries.

Some have turned to small boats organized by smugglers because coronavirus lockdowns have reduced opportunities to stow away on ferries and trucks. Fine summer weather is also prompting more people to make the risky journey across one of the world's busiest shipping lanes - about 20 miles (32 kilometers) at its narrowest point - in vessels as small as dinghies and kayaks

The British and French immigration ministers are due to hold talks this week about the Channel crossings.

Human rights groups have criticized the British government's harsh rhetoric and accused officials of trying to blame France for the rise in the number of boat crossings.

Bridget Chapman of the Kent Refugee Action Network accused the government of 'œsaber-rattling,'ť and called for asylum seekers to be given legal ways to come to Britain.

'œThat would close this route overnight, would save lives, and we would know exactly who was arriving and when,'ť she said.

A Border Force vessel brings a group of people thought to be migrants into the port city of Dover, southern England, Sunday Aug. 9, 2020. Many migrants have used small craft during the recent hot calm weather to make the dangerous journey from northern France, to cross the busy shipping lanes of The Channel to reach Britain. (Yui Mok/PA via AP) The Associated Press
A Border Force vessel brings a group of people thought to be migrants into the port city of Dover, southern England, Sunday Aug. 9, 2020. Many migrants have used small craft during the recent hot calm weather to make the dangerous journey from northern France, to cross the busy shipping lanes of The Channel to reach Britain. (Yui Mok/PA via AP) The Associated Press
A Border Force vessel brings a group of people thought to be migrants into the port city of Dover, southern England, Sunday Aug. 9, 2020. Many migrants have used small craft during the recent hot calm weather to make the dangerous journey from northern France, to cross the busy shipping lanes of The Channel to reach Britain. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire( /PA via AP) The Associated Press
A Border Force vessel brings a group of people thought to be migrants into the port city of Dover, England, from small boats, Saturday Aug. 8, 2020. The British government says it will strengthen border measures as calm summer weather has prompted a record number of people to attempt the risky sea crossing in small vessels, from northern France to England. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) The Associated Press
Border Force officers escort a group of men thought to be migrants to a waiting bus in the port city of Dover, England, Saturday Aug. 8, 2020. The British government says it will strengthen border measures as calm summer weather has prompted a record number of people to attempt the risky sea crossing in small vessels, from northern France to England. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) The Associated Press
A Border Force vessel brings a group of people thought to be migrants into the port city of Dover, England, from small boats, Saturday Aug. 8, 2020. The British government says it will strengthen border measures as calm summer weather has prompted a record number of people to attempt the risky sea crossing in small vessels, from northern France to England. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) The Associated Press
Border Force officers escort a group of men thought to be migrants to a waiting bus in the port city of Dover, England, Saturday Aug. 8, 2020. The British government says it will strengthen border measures as calm summer weather has prompted a record number of people to attempt the risky sea crossing in small vessels, from northern France to England. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) The Associated Press
A Border Force vessel brings a group of people thought to be migrants into the port city of Dover, England, from small boats, Saturday Aug. 8, 2020. The British government says it will strengthen border measures as calm summer weather has prompted a record number of people to attempt the risky sea crossing in small vessels, from northern France to England. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) The Associated Press
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.