‘Extreme’ asylum measures blasted

New government legislation that allows for the criminalisation of seafarers who rescue asylum seekers has sparked outrage in the union movement and beyond.

Clause 38 of the Nationality and Borders Bill, which completed its second reading in the House of Commons last month, could potentially be used to criminalise seafarers if they are found to be “facilitating” the entry of asylum seekers into the UK.

The Bill represents a change to the 1971 Immigration Act which makes an offence of assisting an asylum seeker “for gain”, thereby targeting prosecutions to paid people smugglers. The new clause increases the maximum sentence from 14 years to life imprisonment.

Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT maritime union, said: “Quite simply, the government is legislating to criminalise seafarers for saving lives at sea.” He said the “extreme measures” in the Nationality and Borders Bill “would lead to more deaths, people trafficking and persecution in UK waters, seafarers thrown in jail and bring shame on the UK’s position as a leading maritime nation”.

The International Maritime Organization, a UN agency, has also spoken out, saying anything that increases the chance of loss of life at sea should be avoided. Meanwhile, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution has vowed to keep saving anyone in danger at sea.