France to begin intercepting small boats in English Channel after UK pressure
France has agreed to start intercepting migrant vessels in the Channel, after months of insistence from the UK.
The change in policy follows the Prime Minister sent a letter to the President urging him to back the initiative and saying there currently "have no effective preventive measure" in the maritime passage.
French security forces will be allowed to intercept the small boats at sea, but exclusively prior to they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently acted to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered too great a danger to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we deploy these tactics this month... We have no effective prevention in the Channel waters."
Now, a French maritime police spokesperson states personnel will begin taking action at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Significantly, the official ruled out the use of nets to intercept boats, which had previously been reported as a possible technique to disable the propellers of the boats.
This determination to intervene at all is a significant advancement, following a short-lived shift towards a stricter approach this summer, which ceased when the former government official departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, preceding a summit between the UK leader and President, when authorities were observed walking into the sea to damage the sides of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats before they pick up asylum-seeking individuals from the beaches of northern France, however it's uncertain how the small boats will be stopped.
Strong winds are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the human trafficking gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the previous instances.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for comment.
Connected Developments
- Reasons UK can't just return migrants to French territory
- France withdrawing from commitment to stop migrant boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
