French authorities will start stopping small boats in English Channel after British demands
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to back the initiative and stating there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have rarely intervened to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both officers and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential method to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, following a brief shift towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be allowed to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the beaches of northern France, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
Connected Updates
- Reasons Britain cannot just return migrants to France
- French government withdrawing from commitment to intercept asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
