France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to support the initiative and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the past.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
Connected Developments
- Reasons Britain cannot just return migrants to France
- French government withdrawing from commitment to intercept asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
