French border police allegedly watched on as migrants struggled to get on a dinghy around 15 miles east of Calais, according to a report. A group of asylum seekers, including a mother, a father, and young children, unsuccessfully attempted to resist the currents and wade out to the small boat as it departed.
Ten French police reportedly watched it unfold with binoculars from the shore, wearing riot helmets and some carrying pepper spray and shields. When asked why they didn’t get involved given how perilous the situation was, one officer said: “It’s difficult.”
BBC News reports that French law prevents police from intervening when migrants are in the water, meaning people are increasingly waiting in the surf until the boat arrives before attempting to board, a loophole which criminals gangs are exploiting.
They didn’t manage to clamber aboard and returned in silence to the beach in Gravelines, northern France, The Sun reports
The dinghy had left shore further up at the coast just before 5am and had arrived to pick up the migrants, with a crowd bolting for the boat from the sand dunes, the outlet reports.
A large group of men were reportedly the first to get aboard, joined by women and families with children.
One of the men reportedly seemed to be only barely able to keep his head above water as he scrambled to get aboard.
France’s National Directorate of Border Police (DNPAF) and the French Embassy in the UK have been approached for comment via email.
