France to begin intercepting small boats in Channel following UK pressure
France has agreed to start stopping small boats in the English Channel, following months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging 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 intercept the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to official confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the heavily loaded boats departing from the shoreline 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 deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French maritime police spokesperson says personnel will start taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been suggested as a potential technique to snarl the engines of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant advancement, coming after a brief change towards a more aggressive approach this warmer season, which dropped off when the previous government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in the summer month, preceding a summit between the Prime Minister and French president, when authorities were witnessed wading into the sea to slash the sides of a vessel.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to intercept boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the coastal areas of northern France, however it's uncertain how the vessels will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently postponing the start of interceptions and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adapt to evade interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and Downing Street have been contacted for response.
Connected Developments
- Reasons UK cannot just return migrants to French territory
- French government backing away from pledge to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
