France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader wrote to the French leader asking him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to official statements.
French police have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to stop boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the engines of the boats.
The decision 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 ceased when the former government official left government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a summit between the UK leader and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be looking for methods to adjust to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for comment.
Connected Developments
- Why UK can't just send back asylum seekers to French territory
- French government backing away from pledge to stop asylum boats
