French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to back the plan and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is viewed as too great a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a stricter strategy this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in July, preceding a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they collect asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's not clear how the small boats will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been approached for response.
Connected Updates
- Reasons UK can't just return asylum seekers to French territory
- France backing away from pledge to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
