Britain unable to protect waters after Brexit, claims ex-Royal Navy chief
Britain will not have enough ships to patrol its waters after leaving the European Union, according to the former head of the UK's naval staff.
Ex-First Sea Lord, Labour peer Lord West of Spithead, warned that the country has "insufficient ships" to protect its Exclusive Economic zone days after a "scallop war" broke out between French and British sailors.
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He said co-ordination of the ships Britain does have is "fragmented" and post-Brexit the situation will be "disastrous."
In a letter to the Daily Telegraph Lord West wrote: "It is clear that we have insufficient ships to patrol the United Kingdom’s territorial seas and our Exclusive Economic Zone. Co-ordination of the few ships we do have is fragmented.
The National Maritime Intelligence Centre provides a good picture of the seas around us, but the weaknesses are in prioritising the information it provides and having insufficient assets to take appropriate action."
Tensions at sea between French and British fishermen in the English Channel reached breaking point on Tuesday over the collection of scallops.
The escalating war over the molluscs saw boats rammed and rocks thrown earlier this week as French sailors accused the British of "looting" scallops. The French Government bans fishing for scallops between May and October.
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