French authorities to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after British demands
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the English Channel, following months of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift follows the British leader sent a letter to the French leader urging him to support the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective deterrent" in the Channel.
French maritime police have been authorized to stop the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both officers and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Currently, a French naval police representative says personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the aim of protecting lives.
Notably, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had previously been reported as a potential technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major advancement, coming after a short-lived shift towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the previous Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the UK leader and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Currently French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of France's north coast, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are presently delaying the start of intervention operations and the human trafficking networks will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
The Home Office and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
Connected Developments
- Reasons UK can't just return migrants to French territory
- French government withdrawing from pledge to stop migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
