French authorities to begin intercepting migrant vessels in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to begin stopping small boats in the Channel, after an extended period of insistence from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President asking him to support the plan and stating there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French maritime police have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've picked up their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French authorities have infrequently acted to stop the heavily loaded boats leaving the shoreline because it is viewed as excessively high a danger to both officers and individuals.
"It is crucial that we implement these tactics this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French maritime police representative states personnel will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of protecting lives.
Significantly, the official excluded the use of nets to intercept boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived change towards a stricter approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous Interior Minister left office.
This was demonstrated in the summer month, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and French president, when French police were observed walking into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Currently French officials will once more be allowed to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, although it's uncertain how the vessels will be stopped.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of interceptions and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for methods to adapt to avoid detection, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
Connected Developments
- Reasons UK cannot just return asylum seekers to French territory
- France withdrawing from pledge to intercept migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
