French authorities will start intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping migrant vessels in the Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
This policy shift comes after the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the plan and stating there presently "have no effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police will be allowed to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've picked up their passengers, according to official statements.
French police have rarely intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline because it is viewed as too great a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the spokesperson excluded the use of entanglement devices to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a possible method to disable the propellers of the vessels.
This determination to take action 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 departed from office.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will once more be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking passengers from the coastal areas of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for 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.
Connected Developments
- Reasons UK cannot just send back asylum seekers to French territory
- France withdrawing from pledge to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
