French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following British demands
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the plan and saying there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French naval police representative says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a brief shift towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
Connected Developments
- Reasons Britain cannot just send back migrants to French territory
- France withdrawing from commitment to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
