Britain is seeking an 'Australian solution' to the migrant problem

Irish Naval personnel from the LÉ Eithne rescuing migrants as part of Operation Triton in June 2015. Source https://www.flickr.com/photos/dfmagazine/18898637736/ Author: Irish Defence Forces. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

Reports that migrants are continuing to try to cross the Channel from northern France to southern England in small vessels, have the British reaching for Australian tools. These are basically outsourcing measures. The destination country is rendered a no-go area for the uninvited by intercepting migrant boats and processing them offshore. (For Australia it used to be Papua, New Guinea and Nauru. In Britain’s case, Rwanda, Albania and Ascencion Island are being mooted as possible holding camps.)

There are several problems with the whole notion of trying out tough and controversial Australian-style policies on migrants. Preventing asylum-seekers from ever setting foot on British soil may work for the UK (as it did for A…