France: Decathlon halts canoe gross sales to curb migrant crossings

Sports store Decathlon has introduced it should now not promote canoes in northern France to assist put a cease to migrants desperately attempting to cross the English Channel, it was reported on Tuesday.
“The purchase of canoes will no longer be possible” in shops in Calais and Grande-Synthe, close to Dunkirk, “given the current context,” Decathlon advised information company AFP, confirming French media studies that emerged earlier on Tuesday.
‘Lives endangered’ Decathlon says
The determination was made because the canoes weren’t getting used for his or her meant function, and lives have been in danger, the sports activities gear retailer stated.
“People’s lives” have been “endangered,” by their inappropriate use, Decathlon stated.
According to the retailer, the shops within the north of the nation made the choice themselves to cease promoting the canoes and Decathlon administration had agreed with their reasoning.
The canoes will proceed to be obtainable on-line and in shops elsewhere in France. Other security gear, similar to life-jackets and thermal safety, will nonetheless be offered within the Calais and Grande-Synthe shops.
Last Friday, three migrants have been reported lacking after attempting to cross the channel utilizing canoes. This got here 24 hours after two canoes have been discovered adrift off Calais, with two people rescued from the water.
Migrant crossings proceed to soar
A report variety of migrants crossed the channel in small boats final Thursday — 1,185 in line with figures within the UK — which the British authorities stated was “unacceptable.”
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin spoke to his British counterpart Priti Patel on Monday, however solely after giving an interview by which he stated Britain ought to “stop using us as a punch-ball in their domestic politics.”
In the entire of 2020, some 9,500 individuals made the hazardous journey throughout the English Channel, or at the least tried to take action, in comparison with 2,300 in 2019 and 600 in 2018.
This yr’s numbers have soared additional nonetheless, regardless of the dangers. By the top of August, that determine had already reached 15,000 for 2021.