France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've picked up their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these tactics this period... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police representative says officers will start intervening at sea, with the aim of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible method to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are currently postponing the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adapt to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
Related Updates
- Reasons UK cannot just return migrants to French territory
- French government backing away from pledge to intercept asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
