French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a potential technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the former government official left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
Connected Developments
- Reasons Britain can't just return migrants to French territory
- France backing away from pledge to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
