It sounds as if they'd be unlikely to turn back a precarious vessel, though I expect they'd hope that migrants would believe they would (or maybe migrants wouldn't believe that and would feel encouraged to use a precarious vessel if they thought they'd more likely be rescued than turned back?). I couldn't believe that the dinghy shown on the news recently was still afloat. It was absolutely packed and someone seemed to be bailing.
The tactic has never been used before in the English Channel, but it has been in the Mediterranean, said the Immigration Services Union (ISU) which represents borders, immigration and customs staff.
Lucy Moreton from the ISU said she would be "very surprised" if it ends up being used at all - calling it "dead in the water".
"There are understandably a lot of constraints around it, and you cannot do this with a vessel which is in any way vulnerable.
"But more importantly, you also need the consent of the French to do it. Because as you turn the vessel back towards France, when it crosses the median line it has to be intercepted and rescued by the French, and it appears the French will simply not engage in this."
www.bbc.com/news/uk-58495948
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