Royal Navy: No spare capacity to patrol English Channel for migrants

Royal Navy planners will be "hoping desperately" no warships are deployed to police the English Channel as they have "no spare capacity".

MPs on the Commons Defence Committee were hearing evidence on the recent decision to use the military to counter migrant crossings.

While the Navy could use the P2000 fast inshore patrol vessel, Commander (Retired) Tom Sharpe told MPs the Navy has "no fat" to accommodate its new role of patrolling the Channel.

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