French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the Channel, following months of insistence from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective prevention in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the boats.
This determination to take action at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official left government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be seeking ways to adjust to evade interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
Connected Developments
- Reasons Britain can't just send back migrants to French territory
- French government backing away from pledge to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
