French police leave migrant family to drown while watching helplessly
- A migrant family struggled against strong currents while trying to reach a small boat near Gravelines, France.
- Ten French police officers observed the situation without intervening, despite the apparent danger.
- The incident has raised significant concerns about the role and responsibility of law enforcement in protecting vulnerable migrants.
In France, a recent incident near Gravelines, located approximately 15 miles east of Calais, unfolded as a migrant family attempted to board a small boat. This family, thought to be from Eritrea, included parents and their young children, who were seen fighting against strong currents. Despite clearly dangerous conditions, ten French police officers stood on the shore, observing without intervening. Using binoculars, they watched the family's desperate struggle as they tried to reach the dinghy, but ultimately, their efforts proved futile, and they returned to the beach exhausted and defeated. The officers' lack of intervention has raised serious questions about the responsibilities of law enforcement in situations involving vulnerable individuals. When asked why they did not intervene, one officer stated simply, 'It's difficult.' This phrase has sparked outrage and concern among human rights advocates and the general public, who argue that police should prioritize the safety and lives of people, particularly those in distress. Many feel that observing such perilous situations without action is an abdication of duty, and it highlights potential flaws in the current policies governing migrant assistance. Reports indicate that the boat from which the migrants were attempting to depart was charging an exorbitant fee, reportedly around £1,200 per person, to make the treacherous journey across the Channel to the UK. This financial burden illustrates the desperate lengths to which many migrants will go to escape their circumstances, making them more vulnerable to exploitation by smugglers. As the situation unfolds, the number of small boat crossings has surged dramatically. On the day of the incident, approximately 400 small boat migrants crossed the Channel, contributing to a total of over 15,000 arrivals in the UK just this year alone. The sheer volume of people attempting these crossings raises significant concerns regarding border security and the humanitarian implications of such migrations, particularly under the watchful gaze of law enforcement that remains seemingly passive in the face of danger.