French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in English Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting small boats in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the UK.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative confirmation.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to disable the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former government official departed from office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the hulls of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, although it's not clear how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking networks will be seeking methods to adjust to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
Related Developments
- Reasons Britain cannot just send back asylum seekers to French territory
- French government withdrawing from commitment to stop migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
