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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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to suggest we take over border control in Calais!

114 replies

SuggestmeaUsername · 28/07/2015 20:18

obviously with the agreement of the French...

From watching the news it seems the French are not very effective and/or are apathetic at border control around Calais and are unable to prevent illegal immigrants from attempting to enter the UK.

So maybe it would make sense and save money in the long run for us to go over there and take charge of the situation both sides of the Channel.

OP posts:
Guitargirl · 28/07/2015 21:48

Oh for crying out loud, do you not think that the UK already has border control in France? Why do you think there is such a problem with camps on the border? This is (supposed to be) the EU. If British immigration were not in Calais then people could just cross the border. Am sure the French would love to be able to allow free crossing and alleviate the number of people sleeping in tents and causing them a significant PR problem at the moment. Do you really think French immigration are so desperate to keep in France the (relatively few) number of migrants in Calais?

GoofyIsACow · 28/07/2015 21:51

Did anyone watch the programme about immigrants presented by Ross Kemp recently, it was very interesting.

PerspicaciaTick · 28/07/2015 21:54

It isn't really the border control that is a problem, but the actual, physical security of the port. I can't imagine the security around Heathrow or Charles De Gualle airports being allowed to be as holey and apathetic as the security around Calais.

AuntieStella · 28/07/2015 21:55

Retake Calais?

That sounds like winding history back several centuries!

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 28/07/2015 22:00

I think maybe the French could do with a few of DCs new proposals re strikes.....

woolythoughts · 28/07/2015 22:01

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Sleepsoftly · 28/07/2015 22:04

Woolythoughts that's what Penisland said just a few minutes ago and they were just deleted for crimes against humanity too.

Not nice is it.

Boardingblues · 28/07/2015 22:04

Woolythoughts: My what a lovely person you are! How do you shoot on sight and ensure they are illegal? Is there a minimum age for your extermination policy?

WannaShedthisFatSuit · 28/07/2015 22:05

You do realise it doesn't work like that?

It does, we do run it with the French Tm has put more resources into it, huge problem and needs lots of different attack approaches.

We need to know why people pass through many many peaceful and lovely countries to get to dear old rain soaked cold Britain.

Bustle · 28/07/2015 22:06

I read the title and thought you mean Mumsnet take over the border..... That would be interesting....

WannaShedthisFatSuit · 28/07/2015 22:07

goofy no can you enlighten us to the key points

TheOnlyOliviaMumsnet · 28/07/2015 22:07

AHEM
Bit of peace of love please.

woodhill · 28/07/2015 22:07

I do think we should be able to send them back to France if they stowaway or arrive here illegally.

watching bbc news now about Nigeria and people trafficking

Boardingblues · 28/07/2015 22:07

Reading some of the posts on here, it would be scary!

Moreshabbythanchic · 28/07/2015 22:09

How have these people crossed the whole of France unchecked and unnoticed by the French? The fact is they haven't, they have been allowed to do this so they can get to the uk and France can wash their hands.

Also, its not only tourists who are having their holidays ruined, it the lorry drivers who are being threatened with violence and the risk of heavy fines if caught with immigrants, the financial cost to many firms due to loss of goods, many of which are food produce which will either go off because of delays or have to be destroyed due to contamination.

Sleepsoftly · 28/07/2015 22:10

Oh, but maybe Penisland and Woolythoughts are getting a bit messed up in their heads. Or their head.

A man in Tunisia had similar thoughts a few weeks ago. People on 'his' shores. It's not the way to go as I posted earlier. Its about giving more wealth away, or we suffer the consequences. People do not come to the UK for the weather. That's an important point to understand, I guess.

Boardingblues · 28/07/2015 22:11

Moreshabbythanchic: Now OP will have to consider taking over the whole of France….

WannaShedthisFatSuit · 28/07/2015 22:11

more and its scary too for lorry drivers and tourists, knives have been pulled on people.

WannaShedthisFatSuit · 28/07/2015 22:13

sleep you dont think African countries have wealth? Confused They do but are largely corrupt and do not share it with their people, how is the west supposed to intervene and help them? Mugabe springs to mind too....

Boardingblues · 28/07/2015 22:14

Sleepsoftly: You are making very valid points… It is about reducing those peoples reasons to leave their homelands and family.

WannaShedthisFatSuit · 28/07/2015 22:16

How Boarding?

By blowing up their dictators like we did with Gaddafi?

They are wealthy they are usually in grip of dicators.

bringthenoise · 28/07/2015 22:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

woodhill · 28/07/2015 22:18

totally agree about the corrupt governments, we do give aid and we have given asylum or economic status to many refugees already.

fflonkl · 28/07/2015 22:18

Perspicacia I agree. This is a law and order / security issue, not border control. I'm pretty sure if the chaos were happening on the A1 near Paris the riot police would be out in force. It strikes me that by allowing these migrants to set up camp in Calais and allowing them to disrupt traffic on the A16 and beyond, the French are effectively telling the world they have no interest in enforcing law and order in that part of their country because migrants are "Britain's problem".

BoyScout · 28/07/2015 22:18

It's unfortunate for the French but while these people are on French soil, they are a French problem. In my mind, their responsibility is not to stop them getting through, per se, but to ensure the safety and security of the train lines, lorry drivers and ferries, like any police force anywhere.

The ones that get through are the Brits problem.