France will start stopping small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister wrote to the President asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have rarely intervened to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is considered too great a risk to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this period... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police representative states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for response.
Connected Developments
- Why Britain cannot just return migrants to French territory
- French government backing away from pledge to intercept asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
