French authorities will start stopping migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and saying there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the maritime passage.
French security forces have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have rarely acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats leaving the coastline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this period... We have no effective prevention in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson excluded the use of nets to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant step forward, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this summer, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from government.
This was demonstrated in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when authorities were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Currently French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be seeking methods to adapt to avoid interception, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been approached for response.
Connected Developments
- Why Britain can't just return migrants to French territory
- France withdrawing from pledge to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
