French authorities to begin stopping migrant vessels in Channel following British demands
French officials have consented to begin intercepting small boats in the Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
The change in policy comes after the British leader wrote to the President urging him to back the plan and saying there currently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces will be allowed to stop the migrant vessels at sea, but only before they've collected their migrants, according to authoritative confirmation.
French authorities have infrequently intervened to prevent the overcrowded boats leaving the shoreline because it is considered excessively high a danger to both personnel and civilians.
"It is crucial that we implement these methods this month... We have zero effective deterrent in the Channel."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson says officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding lives.
Notably, the official ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been suggested as a possible technique to snarl the propellers of the vessels.
The decision to take action at all is a significant step forward, following a brief change towards a more aggressive strategy this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister departed from government.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a summit between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed wading into the sea to damage the hulls of a boat.
Now French authorities will again be permitted to stop boats before they collect migrant individuals from the coastal areas of France's north coast, although it's not clear how the vessels will be prevented.
Powerful gusts are presently delaying the commencement of intervention operations and the people-smuggling gangs will be looking for ways to adjust to avoid interception, as they have done so often in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been approached for response.
Connected Developments
- Reasons UK cannot just return migrants to French territory
- French government withdrawing from pledge to stop asylum boats
UK immigration
Channel crossings
Border security
