Advertisement
Opinion

It’s time to offer a safe route for asylum seekers arriving in boats

The government’s policy on asylum seekers isn’t working. This reader has a suggestion for how the UK can step up to prevent more drownings

Solution not persecution. We, as a nation, have blood on our hands. Too many have drowned. We are incapable of management (the process of dealing with or controlling things, or people). We can stop the drownings, curb the gangs and recover some national pride. How about BIG BOATS? We hire Brittany Ferries, (that will please the French) and offer a SAFE route for asylum seekers.

In French ports we board people with any documentation. We process them on board. Obvious failures are disembarked. We then sail for the UK. We rotate the locations of dockings so that all these sad souls are not all dumped in Kent. Successful applicants will have access to funds to get them started in the UK, rather than refugees giving that money to organised crime gangs. By docking at several ports in turn in the UK, local government can have respite before it is their turn again.

By processing on board the boats there are no pinch points and whatever is required, such as fingerprinting or biometric identification can be carried out in comfort and safety. Unaccompanied children and those who were sex trafficked at some stage of their journey can be identified and given assistance by support groups. Job centre staff can match our migrants to job vacancies. I think we can look after the good people and dishearten the crooks, but only if we shout down the naysayers.

Chris Sames, North Yorkshire

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? We want to hear from you. Get in touch and tell us more.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Buy a Big Issue Vendor Support Kit

This Christmas, give a Big Issue vendor the tools to keep themselves warm, dry, fed, earning and progressing.

Recommended for you

Read All
The climate crisis is on our doorstep. How can we keep eco-anxiety in check?
flood in climate crisis
Rosie Downes

The climate crisis is on our doorstep. How can we keep eco-anxiety in check?

'It had to be a medical miracle': Behind the scenes of Casualty's emotional Christmas special
A blood bag being hung on a Christmas tree promoting the stories in Casualty's 2024 Christmas special
Roxanne Harvey

'It had to be a medical miracle': Behind the scenes of Casualty's emotional Christmas special

Why branding Hastings 'the Grinch capital of the UK' is just plain poverty shaming
Jim Carrey as the Grinch
Laura Cooke

Why branding Hastings 'the Grinch capital of the UK' is just plain poverty shaming

'I have nothing they can take': Council tax debt collection having devastating impact on vulnerable people
a man with an empty wallet
Sarah Muirhead

'I have nothing they can take': Council tax debt collection having devastating impact on vulnerable people

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue