French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, following an extended period of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official confirmation.
French police have rarely acted to stop the overcrowded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the official excluded the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential method to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this warmer season, which ceased when the previous government official left government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a vessel.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adapt to evade detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
Related Developments
- Reasons Britain cannot just send back migrants to France
- France backing away from pledge to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
