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Operation Isotrope

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Operation Isotrope
A British Army Watchkeeper UAV at Lydd Airport in Kent (August 2020)
Location
English Channel
ObjectiveTo intercept and deter migrant boats from arriving in UK waters[1]
Date16 January 2022 (2022-01-16)
Executed by United Kingdom

Operation Isotrope was a British military operation to assist the Border Force and other civil authorities in responding to the English Channel migrant crossings which began in 2018. The operation was first announced in January 2022 by Prime Minister Boris Johnson amid an upsurge in migrant crossings.[1]

The operation placed the Royal Navy in command and control of all government vessels involved in counter-migration operations. Its objective is to deter migrant crossings, as well as intercept any boats before they reach British shores. Since the operation began, only a single migrant vessel has reached British shores without escort, however the Royal Navy's effect on the crisis is disputed with some experts criticising the government's strategy as counter-productive and an unnecessary demand on the Royal Navy's finite resources.

By July 2022, efforts were reportedly being made to release the Royal Navy from the operation.

History

Background

Main article: English Channel migrant crossings (2018–present)

Migrants have crossed the English Channel from France since the 1990s when migrant camps began to form in Calais. In 2015, one of these encampments, unofficially named the Calais Jungle, drew wide attention due to its size as a result of the 2015 European migrant crisis.[2] Crossings by boat were rare, however, with migrants more commonly crossing via the Channel Tunnel.[3][4] Following the UK's departure from the European Union (Brexit), people smugglers began telling migrants that the border between the UK and France would be closed. This led to a rush of migrants crossing the English Channel by boat.[5] On 28 December 2018, Home Secretary Sajid Javid declared a major incident as rising numbers of migrants made crossings via boat; he warned there was a serious risk of people losing their lives as the Strait of Dover was one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. A total of 297 migrants crossed the channel during the year and organised criminal gangs of people smugglers were accused of being responsible.[6] In 2019, approximately 1,900 migrants crossed the English Channel. This increased significantly to 8,500 in 2020. The increase was blamed on improved security at ports and the Channel Tunnel which drove migrants to cross via the sea.[1] Most of the migrants were from Iran, Iraq and Syria.[2] Responding to the situation, the Border Force deployed a cutter and two off-shore patrol vessels. Civilian contractors also provided two unmanned aerial vehicles and up to four piloted aircraft for surveillance.[1]

In August 2020, Javid's successor, Home Secretary Priti Patel, made a formal request for military assistance via the military aid to the civil authorities (MACA) mechanism after declaring an intent to make crossings "unviable".[7] She also appointed former Royal Marine Dan O’Mahoney the Clandestine Channel Threat Commander, a new role to lead the UK's response to tackle migrant crossings.[8]

Operation Devran and initial military support

In August 2020, the UK deployed an Airbus A400M Atlas transport aircraft from the Royal Air Force to fly surveillance missions in support of Her Majesty's Coastguard and Border Force. This was the first reported use of military support to tackle the migrant crossings.[9] It was closely followed by the deployment of a Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from RAF Kinloss.[10]

In September 2020, the British Army deployed Thales Watchkeeper WK450 UAVs from 47th Regiment Royal Artillery to carry out surveillance for both the British and French authorities.[11] The UAVs operated from Lydd Airport in Kent and were part of a deployment code-named Operation Devran.[12] Beechcraft Shadow surveillance aircraft were also on standby to assist.[13]

Operation Isotrope

On 16 January 2022, it was reported that plans were being drawn up to place the Royal Navy in operational command of English Channel counter-migration operations.[14] These plans were implemented in March, with all involved government vessels placed under the command of Commander UK Strike Force Mike Utley.[15][1] The over-arching aim of Operation Isotrope was said to be deterrence, in addition to the interception of any boats to prevent illegal migrants from landing on UK shores.[1] According to Defence Minister James Heappey, Royal Navy vessels most likely to be used in the operation were some of the Batch 1 River-class offshore patrol vessels and some smaller Archer-class patrol vessels.[16] Heappey also stated that the Royal Navy would not be involved in the use of controversial pushback tactics, whereby migrant boats would be made to return to France, however this information was contradicted by Home Office Ministers who stated that a decision on such tactics had not yet been made.[1] A subsequent trial carried out by the Royal Marines ultimately led to these tactics no longer being considered by the government.[17] According to Heappey, Royal Navy ships would more likely be involved in command and control (C2) operations, rather than in interdiction, as most Royal Navy ships sit too high above the waterline to be credible platforms to board dinghies.[1]

Around 200 military personnel, mainly drawn from the British Army, are involved with the operation.[18] The Royal Navy's offshore patrol vessel, HMS Severn, is also committed to the operation,[19] alongside six Archer-class inshore patrol vessels, three rigid inflatable boats and one AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat helicopter.[20] Due to Severn's height above the waterline, she is not used for interdiction and is instead used for on-site command and control.

Since the operation began, only a single known migrant vessel has made it to British shores without a naval or Border Force escort. On 12 July 2022, Defence Minister Heappey stated that efforts were being made to release the Royal Navy from the operation.[18] However, Home Office officials are concerned its withdrawal may send the wrong message to people-smugglers.[18]

Reaction

Retired Vice Admiral and former head of the Border Force Charles Montgomery criticised the government's strategy, stating that Royal Navy ships would be a "honeypot" for migrants and would make crossings attractive.[21] The House of Commons Defence Committee published a report in March 2022 condemning "squabbling" between the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office over the use of pushback tactics. It also criticised the government for "overstretching" the Royal Navy's finite resources. It added that the MOD had "little to gain and much to lose" out of its involvement.[22]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Operation Isotrope: the use of the military to counter migrant crossings Fourth Report of Session" (PDF). Defence Committee. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Q&A: Migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats". The Migration Observatory. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  3. ^ Pérez-Peña, Richard (31 December 2018). "As Migrants Cross English Channel, Numbers Are Small but Worry Is Big". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 29 January 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  4. ^ Bell, Melissa; Vandoorne, Saskya (6 December 2018). "Migrants risk death at sea to reach Britain as prices spike on traditional routes". CNN. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  5. ^ Campbell, Colin (27 November 2018). "Migrants 'rush to cross Channel by boat before Brexit'". BBC News. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Channel migrants: Home secretary declares major incident". BBC News. 28 December 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  7. ^ Johnston, John (9 August 2021). "Priti Patel calls for military help to stop migrants crossing English Channel". PoliticsHome. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Home Secretary appoints small boat commander". GOV.UK. 9 August 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  9. ^ Ripley, Tim (12 August 2020). "UK deploys A400M on counter-migrant mission". Janes Information Services. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  10. ^ "Kinloss-based RAF plane sent to monitor English Channel". BBC News. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  11. ^ Bostock, Bill (5 September 2020). "The UK is using a military drone to monitor and stop migrants from crossing the English channel, after a record 1,400 crossed in August". Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  12. ^ Doward, Jamie (26 December 2020). "British military drone crashes during Cyprus training flight". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 March 2022. [...] the unmanned aircraft system has been used by the UK Border Force to patrol the Channel since September under Operation Devran.
  13. ^ "Migrant Crossings: Army Watchkeeper Drone Monitors Channel". BFBS. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  14. ^ Swinford, Steve; Dathan, Matt (16 January 2022). "Boris Johnson calls in military to stem flow of migrants". The Times. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  15. ^ Allison, George (27 January 2022). "Military takes command of Border Force vessels in the Channel". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  16. ^ "Migrant Crossings: Role of the Military". TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  17. ^ Janes, William (12 July 2022). "Government abandoned migrant pushback tactic after trial, MPs hear". The Independent. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  18. ^ a b c Thomas, Richard (13 July 2022). "UK MoD eyes exit from Channel migrant mission". Naval Technology. Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  19. ^ "Royal Navy ends 2022 as it began the year – on patrol at home and worldwide". Royal Navy. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  20. ^ Hymas, Charles; Nicholls, Dominic (15 August 2022). "Exclusive: Royal Navy backs out of Channel migrant patrols". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  21. ^ "Channel migrants: Navy ships would be 'migrant honeypot'". BBC News. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  22. ^ "Channel migrants: Committee report condemns government 'squabbling'". BBC News. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
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