Retailer halts kayak sales in northern France to deter migrant crossings
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[November 17, 2021]
PARIS (Reuters) - French sporting
goods retailer Decathlon has stopped selling kayaks and other small
boats in four of its northern stores close to the Channel coast to
prevent migrants buying them for an attempt to reach Britain.
The move comes after a surge this month in the number of migrants making
the perilous sea journey from France to Britain across some of the
world's busiest shipping lanes.
Decathlon said it was removing all dinghies and kayaks from its stores
in Calais, Grande-Synthe, Boulogne-sur-Mer and Le Touquet. The towns
include launching points used by migrants, where Britain can be seen
from the French shore on a clear day.
"We are committed to never putting our customers at risk with the use of
our products under any circumstances," the retail chain said in a
statement.
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Life-saving products such as life jackets will remain available in all
its stores, the company said.
Hundreds of migrants have taken advantage of benign sea conditions this
month to attempt the crossing, often in over-loaded inflatable dinghies
but also on occasion canoes and jet skis.
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![](../images/111721PIX/news_x45.jpg)
Police officers walk past a damaged dinghy used by migrants as they
patrol along the Slack dunes in Wimereux, France, September 16,
2021. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol/File Photo
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The British government has expressed renewed
frustration at the numbers reaching England's southern shores and
demanded France do more to halt the clandestine crossings in poorly
equipped boats that are unfit for navigation at open sea.
The French coastguard in the area said on Tuesday it had rescued 272
people the previous night.
Decathlon is a part of the conglomerate built around food retailer
Auchan, owned by the billionaire Mulliez family.
(Reporting by Tassilo Hummel; Editing by Richard Lough and Peter
Graff)
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