French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister left government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to stop boats before they collect asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the start of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for comment.
Connected Developments
- Reasons UK can't just return asylum seekers to France
- French government withdrawing from commitment to stop migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
