Britain is the new policeman of Europe and you, dear humble taxpayers, are footing the bill. Don’t believe me? Have a look at a few examples of what happens when a deficit in political will on the Continent means that this country has to step in to do some heavy lifting.
1) In Magaluf local police find it all a bit hard to stop drunks falling over, hitting their heads and generally disporting themselves in a most innapropriate manner. So earlier this month it was announced British police officers would fly out to two Spanish resorts to help the local force deal with UK nationals involved in crime.
Two officers from the West Midlands force were chosen to patrol in full uniform alongside the Guardia Civil in Magaluf, on the island of Mallorca, and San Antonio, on Ibiza, to assist in investigations where British holidaymakers are offenders or victims.
It’s not a hardship posting (two British officers were spotted last week taking selfies and sunbathing). Still, the deployment has been funded in conjunction with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
2) On the Mediterranean right now you will find HMS Enterprise, a hydrographic and oceanographic survey vessel, patrolling the sea lanes and trying to stop people smugglers delivering their desperate cargo ashore in Europe.
HMS Enterprise is part of the European Union’s latest naval operation, EUNAVFOR Med, which was launched on 22 June to tackle human smuggling from Libya and North Africa. The ship took station earlier this month and replaced HMS Bulwark, one of the United Kingdom’s two newest amphibious transport docks designed to put Royal Marines ashore by air and by sea.
Neither ship was meant for the role they are/were required to undertake, basically that of being a water taxi and floating reception centre. In fact HMS Bulwark, the 19,000-tonne Royal Navy flagship, was replaced because it broke down under the strain of accommodating thousands of asylum seekers.
All operational costs will be borne by Britain (as will the repair bill for the broken HMS Bulwark).
3) Now look at France. Breitbart London reported in July that the UK offered our nearest neighbour some £7 million to help build a new fence in Calais after around 2000 attempts by migrants to enter the Eurotunnel in just one night.
UK home secretary Theresa May announced the extra funds alongside her French counterpart Bernard Cazeneuve.
“The UK government will be putting in up to £7 million more to ensure the security of the Eurotunnel railhead”, she said. The money will help pay for a new 2km fence at the Eurotunnel site at Coquelles. The investment of UK resources includes CCTV, flood lighting and infrared detection technology to secure the Eurotunnel railhead. This is on top of the £3 million the UK has already stumped up to put new barriers at the site.
At the same time that announcement was being made, the Eurotunnel company, which manages the Channel Tunnel between Britain and France, said it wants millions more in compensation because of the disruptions caused by the inability of French police to effectively discharge their duties and stop illegal immigrants boarding lorries and private cars heading back to Britain.
4) Still on the subject of immigrants, France is sending a bill to Westminster so failed asylum seekers who never even make it here can be flown back to their country of origin.
As reported yesterday by Breitbart London, asylum processing facilities intended to fast track applications for refugee status in France will be part-funded by Britain in addition to the flight deal the Home Office says it is still ‘working out’ – which is Civil Service code for ‘we have absolutely no idea what the final bill will be.’
Flights from France returning migrants to their home countries now run several times a month. As part of the proposed Anglo-French agreement signed Thursday in Calais, the UK has admitted it will share the transport as well as security costs.
If you think all of the above sounds bad enough, then imagine what is going to happen if David Cameron gets his way and this country ends up tied to the apron strings of the EU in perpetuity.
Put simply, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
Follow Simon Kent on Twitter: Follow @SunSimonKent or e-mail to: skent@breitbart.com
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