France will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the UK.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police representative says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major advancement, following a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will again be allowed to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks 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.
Related Updates
- Reasons Britain cannot just send back asylum seekers to French territory
- French government withdrawing from pledge to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
