Priti Patel appoints ex-Royal Marine to combat migrant smuggling gangs causing Channel border crisis
PRITI Patel called up a former Royal Marine last night to spearhead action against illegal migrants crossing the Channel.
The Home Secretary appointed a “small boats commander” with the job of intercepting boats and combatting people smugglers.
Dan O’Mahoney, an expert in ship-to-ship operations, has been put in charge of a massive new mission to stop dinghies and other small vessels sailing to Britain’s shores from France.
The ex-commando is under orders to collaborate closely with the French to draw up stronger joint enforcement measures.
He was drafted in after the number of migrants to complete the crossing this year hit 3,950 — more than double the figure for the whole of 2019.
Officially known as the “Clandestine Channel Threat Commander”, he takes on a new role leading the UK’s response to the crisis.
Ms Patel said: “The number of illegal small boat crossings is appalling.
“Dan’s appointment is vital to cutting this route by bringing together all operational partners in the UK and France.
“This is a complex problem but across government we are working to address many of these long-standing issues and make this route unviable by arresting the criminals facilitating these crossings and making sure they’re brought to justice.”
Commander O’Mahoney, who served with the Marines in operational deployments in Kosovo and Iraq, will direct Border Force patrol boats, which will be given limited Royal Navy back-up.
He will work on improving intelligence to intercept boats before they sail — and nail organised crime gangs behind people trafficking.
But perhaps just as important will be his role in dealing with the French authorities, whom Tory MPs have accused of doing too little to stop craft crammed with migrants from leaving their shores.
‘PADDLE POOL’ TO UK
FOUR migrants made it to Britain in a paddling pool — using snow shovels as oars.
The men are said to have been shadowed over the Channel by a French vessel before capsizing 11 miles off Dover on Friday.
The French boat rescued them and then the Dover lifeboat picked them up. A source said: “They didn’t need medical attention but they were very cold.
“How on Earth they made it that far is astonishing. – it shows the lengths they’re willing to go to in a bid to get here. It’s life-risking enough as it is in the dinghies and kayaks they’ve been using.”
A total of 146 migrants arrived in the UK on Friday aboard 17 boats. Yesterday a group of 14 evaded Border Force patrols to land at Kingsdown, Kent, including a child and two pregnant women — one close to labour.
Others landed in Deal and Walmer in at least three boats. Dozens more were taken to Dover, including one in a wheelchair.
The Ministry of Defence revealed it had received a formal request from the Home Office to support border patrols in the Dover Strait.
Former Labour Home Secretary Jack Straw warned the commander that any attempt to “push” migrant boats back to French waters risks potentially fatal capsizings.
Immigration Minister Chris Philp said he will meet French counterparts next week to work “to stop these illegal migrants from getting in the water in the first place”.
Ms Patel added: “There are legislative, legal and operational barriers to stopping small boats. The system to return people is not fit for purpose and once boats reach UK waters we’re duty bound to help.”
An insider explained: “At the moment our patrols are not able to turn them back if they think there is a potential risk to life.”
£100K TO FLY 4
THE Home Office hired a 98-seat jet costing £100,000 to fly four illegals and 25 staff to France.
A month later a 160-seat plane was hired for six “enforced removals” plus 41 staff.
Last year the Government paid £37.2million to repatriate 18,782 people. Of this, £7.6million went on 18 planes for 1,472 enforced removals.
The TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “People will be outraged.” Thousands went back on scheduled flights. The Home Office said it maximised value for money and flights were the safest method.
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“We are hoping that the new commander’s expertise will help to devise an operational tactic to enable us to turn back these boats.”
But France is demanding £30million from Britain before it acts to stop migrants, The Times reported.
The Sun Says
PRITI Patel must stem the alarming numbers of migrants crossing the Channel.
So the Home Secretary’s appointment of an experienced former Royal Marine to take on the traffickers is to be welcomed.
Commander Dan O’Mahoney has been given wide-ranging powers not only to deal with the boats but also the stubborn French authorities who enable them.
He must look at all options, including the “push-back” policy which worked so well in Australia.
If anyone can find a way of stopping this tide of human misery while safeguarding lives, surely Dan can.
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