Home Secretary is right to order boats to be turned back

September 09, 2021

Migration Watch UK today releases a briefing paper (MW495 - Does international maritime law forbid turning back the boats?) referencing evidence submitted by international maritime law experts to Parliament suggesting the authorities have the right to intercept boats crossing from France.

The release comes in the wake of reports that the Home Secretary has asked the Border Force to look into turning away migrant boats from British waters, with plans for officials to be taught how to turn boats around.

Commenting, Alp Mehmet, Chairman of Migration Watch UK, said:

The Home Secretary is right to instruct the Border Force to intercept and turn back dinghies with migrants in the Channel.

Stopping the boats is the only way to break the business model of the people-smugglers and deter the rising number of needless and deadly crossings.