AUSTRALIAN refugee advocates are alarmed at reports that Britain’s military could be deployed to deal with the small number of refugee boats leaving France.

They were reacting to comments made by Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson on Sunday that “our navy, air force and army stand ready to assist.”

Home Secretary Sajid Javid has now sent two more Border Force cutters, which had been in operation in Greece, to the Channel to help deter and disrupt refugee crossings, he announced on Monday, although he has not yet called in the armed forces.

Since 2013, Australia’s military has turned back refugee boats on the high seas, often in dangerous and disputed circumstances.

The policy, Operation Sovereign Borders, has allegedly seen Australian officials bribe people smugglers to return refugees to Indonesia. 

In one case, the refugees were forced onto less seaworthy vessels for the return trip, which ran out of fuel and crashed into a reef.

Sixty-five refugees, including a pregnant woman, had to be rescued by Indonesian fishermen.

Australia’s militarised response to refugee boats has concerned human rights activists there, who are now “alarmed” that Britain could be about to adopt a similar approach.

The Refugee Action Coalition in Sydney said: “We are extremely concerned by any proposal by the British government to use the navy to intercept refugee boats or turn boats back to France.”

The group’s spokesperson Ian Rintoul told the Star: “The British government should be providing assistance to any person seeking to gain protection in Britain. It is a fundamental right for asylum-seekers to cross borders to seek protection.”

Mr Rintoul warned that any military operations “will inevitably lead to increase levels of official anti-refugee rhetoric from British politicians, and racism directed at refugees.”

“Rather than deterrence and the use of the navy and military force, the British government should be providing assistance to save lives and provide protection to those seeking asylum in Britain.”

Green Party co-leader Sian Berry told the Star that we should be “asking why refugees and migrants are forced to attempt the perilous Channel crossing.”

She added: “Millions are displaced internally within Yemen, as a direct result of the UK continuing to sell arms into that conflict.”

Britain should “look at our role in the causes of displacement.”