Tag: security

I have held back from commenting on the “refugee crisis” as it is such a complex issue. Like many folks, I am shocked by the images being flashed into our homes by the news media. Images of dead children being lifted from the sea-shore  generate many emotions, chiefly anger, and will galvanise a nation to action in a way that no image of hundreds of young men climbing onto trains will do. However, it is precisely the latter that is creating, for me, a growing feeling of disquiet about such a massive migration and potential influx into the UK.

In the first instance, given the general state of alert around the world for potential terrorist attacks, what security vetting is being carried out on all of these “refugees” ? It doesn’t take much imagination to see that this is an ideal opportunity for terrorist infiltration.  I’m sure I’m not the only one who sees the potential for ISIS and other organisations to take advantage and sneak a few “soldiers” in under the radar. With such large numbers migrating across borders it is a near impossible task for our security services to carry out proper and in-depth checks into the identity and backgrounds of these people.

Many of these folks are true refugees, fleeing from horrific conditions and risk to their lives. They have truly fled the conflict with just what they can carry. However, many of those seen across the channel, trying to gain entry to Britain are not refugees. These non-refugees are economic migrants, and I use that term loosely, seeking to gain entry to the UK and its benefits system. Some are from strife torn middle east and north African countries. But many are not. Some have left behind a regime or an environment that they did not like, but they were not at risk and are therefore not true refugees.

Can someone explain to me why these people, having escaped the conflict, crossed the Mediterranean and arrived in a “safe” country, continue to travel onwards across many borders heading towards north European countries ?

And that, for me, is why the government is right to keep turning back the hoards, the swarms, the masses of illegal immigrants at our borders. That is why they are right to only take the true refugees who have been through the correct processing camps near to the borders of the countries from which they are escaping. This country, this government and local councils should not have to accept all who present themselves at our borders. They should only have to consider properly vetted refugees.

Secondly it would seem that these folks, wearing the refugee label, are going to take priority over our own countrymen and women. UK citizens all over the country who have been on housing lists for years will suddenly find themselves pushed down the housing ladder. UK citizens, living on the streets, will still be living on the streets. While, for these “refugees”, previously non-existent housing will be found. They, the “refugees” will not have to fight and justify their rights to a home and benefits, just declare themselves refugees and our central government will force local councils to find them homes. Will the government, having created the required housing at a stroke, magic away this countries unemployment figures, create jobs for the refugees, jobs that it hasn’t been able to create for UK citizens ?

The UKs response to this crisis has to be measured and not a knee jerk, emotional response to the medias presentation. David Cameron is never going to come out of this covered in glory. He is in one of those lose/lose, damned if you do, damned if you don’t situations.