Channel ‘commander’ plans to use nets to stop migrant boats

Other new plans involve convincing would-be migrants not to make the trip

New plan would see propeller boats disabled by netting before migrants are taken aboard UK ships(PA)

The UK is preparing to use nets to “disable” dinghies carrying migrants across the Channel, the new official responsible for preventing crossings has signalled.

Propeller boats would be rendered inoperable before taking migrantsaboard British vessels and transporting them back across to France, in the third part of a four-stage plan aimed at stemming illegal migration across the channel.

Dan O'Mahoney, who was appointed clandestine Channel threat commander by Priti Patel in August, set out his plan to tackle illegal migration in an interview with The Telegraph.

Mr Mahoney said the tactic is one of many “which we may deploy over the next few months,” as the UK border authorities work to stop illegal migrants from reaching Britain.

However, he said French authorities are currently not accepting returning migrants.

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“We definitely are very, very close to being able to operationalise a safe return tactic where we make an intervention safely on a migrant vesel, take migrants on board our vessel and then take them back to France. The problem with that currently is that the French won't accept them back to France.”

Mr Mahoney suggested there was a case for increasing sentences for people involved in facilitating illegal crossings, saying: “I think it's rare for a law enforcement official to say that they think the sentences are sufficient.”

There have been 87 arrests linked to Channel crossings, the bulk of which were made on people steering boats, according to the National Crime Agency.

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Home secretary Priti Patel recently praised the arrests but campaigners have warned they run the risk of “criminalising the presecuted”.

Mr Mahoney also gave details on the other stages of the four-part plan.

The first two stages aim at preventing people ever making the journey and would involve using social media campaigns and government officials posted abroad in an attempt to persuade migrants in Africa and the Middle East not to take illegal trips to reach the UK.  

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