Doesn't sound like it. But if they're going to get fined £2000 per stowaway and face criminal charges and probably lose their livelihood I can understand the reaction. When ports are not properly policed and the burden of doing the policing (and the punishment for failure) has been dumped onto the shoulders of truck drivers, its hardly surprising they take the law into their own hands.
I once had some dealings with a German 1st mate on a coastal tanker, they found some stowaways on the ship while running palm oil from the west coast of africa, I asked him about how they dealt with all the ensuing bureaucracy.........no problem he said, we threw them over the side. True story, but it was back in the late 70s
just which law is it in particular that allows / encourages / dictates civilians to beat up on other people irispective of where they come from ?
I didn't say there was such a law. I said that when the legitimate forces of law and order abandon the task of policing, people who feel they have no other option will do it for themselves.
" do it themselves " ,, " policing " ,, that is a not the same as assaulting people like Natzi bully thugs .
